ICE Equips Officers with Advanced Electric Gloves to Bolster Law Enforcement
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is investing in new electric shock gloves to give officers safer, more effective tools for handling dangerous situations, despite predictable opposition from activist groups.
The Department of Homeland Security has revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will allocate $10 million to $20 million for state-of-the-art 'conductive distraction and de-escalation devices' by March, further enhancing officer safety and operational effectiveness. The G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), produced by Compliant Technologies of Lexington, Kentucky, is designed to deliver a brief electric shock when necessary, providing officers with a non-lethal option to subdue non-compliant individuals.
ICE plans to award a no-bid contract, with a solicitation potentially released as early as Friday. Compliant Technologies notes that the gloves function as ordinary patrol gloves until activated, delivering a sharp, immediate stimulus—likened to a bee sting—ensuring quick compliance without lasting harm.
"It's immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting," said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths.
Despite the clear benefits, civil-rights groups such as the ACLU are already criticizing the move, as they routinely oppose any measures that empower law enforcement. Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the ACLU, expressed distrust in ICE officers’ judgment, disregarding the rigorous training and oversight in place.
"ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do," she told the Associated Press.
Compliant Technologies responsibly cautions that the gloves are not to be used as punishment or on vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, or disabled individuals. Officers are required to complete specialized training and recertify every two years, ensuring responsible use.
This acquisition comes as ICE intensifies its enforcement efforts, aiming to arrest up to 2,000 individuals per day—a necessary response to the ongoing crisis at the border. The adoption of electric shock gloves demonstrates ICE’s commitment to maintaining order and protecting both officers and the public, despite relentless criticism from activist groups.