ICE Approves $16.7M Purchase of 6,000 Electric Shock Gloves Amid Controversy

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has entered into a $16.7 million agreement to acquire 6,000 pairs of gloves that can deliver electric shocks. The agency claims these will be used to manage uncooperative detainees and protesters.

This decision comes despite strong opposition from civil rights advocates and Democratic members of Congress. They argue that ICE officers lack the necessary oversight and accountability to use such equipment responsibly.

A federal database notice disclosed that ICE signed a no-bid contract with Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies LLC for the gloves. The contract includes support equipment and services for the next six months.

Critics point out that ICE officers are already under scrutiny for their use of force during President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. The agency announced the purchase just hours after a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, urged ICE to abandon the plan.

In a letter to ICE’s acting director, Cortez Masto and 15 other Democratic senators questioned the agency’s need for the devices, citing concerns over the misuse of force in various cities across the country.

The gloves function as regular patrol gloves until an officer activates the electrical mode by pressing a button. They must be applied directly to a person’s skin to deliver a painful shock, intended to gain compliance from resistant individuals.

ICE stated that the gloves would be used in high-stress situations, such as making arrests, transporting combative detainees, and managing civil disturbances. The agency claims the gloves will help prevent injuries and avoid the use of more severe force.

However, the senators emphasized the substantial risks associated with the device, particularly during civil arrests. They demanded transparency regarding officer training and internal review processes to prevent misuse.

The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, defended the purchase, accusing critics of attempting to undermine federal law enforcement.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)