ICE Plans to Equip Agents With Electric Shock Gloves Amid Abuse Concerns

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a notice on August 10, 2026, outlining plans to spend between US$10 million and US$20 million to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with electric shock gloves. Known as the G.L.O.V.E.—an acronym for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter—the technology delivers a painful electric current when applied directly to bare skin, causing neuro-peripheral interference that impairs physical movement.

The acquisition plan, first reported by The Associated Press, drew criticism from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers following its publication. The manufacturer, Compliant Technologies, is a veteran-owned company based in Kentucky that produces the device to assist law enforcement during arrests and resistance. Unlike Tasers, the gloves do not use projecting prongs or break the skin, operating instead through contact pads activated by a small button on the wrist.

Operational Deployment and Training Scenarios

Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to acquire enough devices to potentially outfit most or all of its officers, according to details revealed in the federal purchasing notice. Compliant Technologies markets the equipment as a non-lethal tool meant to de-escalate tense situations quickly. Demonstrations shared by the company show officers temporarily incapacitated and dropping to the ground when touched by the gloves.

Photo: abcnews.com

Kenneth Corey, who spent more than three decades at the New York City Police Department and now leads the Policing Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, told NPR that the impact of the glove is significant. Recalling a personal demonstration where his wrist was grabbed, Corey noted that the device made his knees buckle despite his large build. He emphasized that while use-of-force tools require strict departmental policies and accountability, new equipment must be governed by rigorous guardrails to prevent misuse.

Immigration advocates and legal experts have questioned whether ICE personnel receive sufficient training to deploy such technology safely. Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for immigration at the American Civil Liberties Union, criticized the procurement in an interview with NPR, questioning why an agency that recently undertook a rapid hiring initiative would introduce novel, hazardous technology to personnel facing scrutiny over use-of-force incidents.

Safety Warnings and Historical Incidents

The manufacturer’s user manual explicitly cautions against deploying the gloves on vulnerable demographics frequently encountered during immigration operations, including older individuals, small children, pregnant women, and people with certain disabilities. The documentation also warns that the device must not be used as a response to verbal defiance, punishment, or horseplay.

Photo: npr.org

Safety claims made by manufacturers have faced legal challenges in local jurisdictions. A pending lawsuit alleges that a 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 times with a Taser at a jail in Richmond, Kentucky. An internal investigation by the Madison County Detention Center found that two of the glove activations lasted 45 and 99 seconds, significantly exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended 15-second limit. Additional lawsuits documented by The Associated Press include complaints from a Las Vegas trade show attendee with heart problems and a court defendant who reported being unnecessarily shocked.

The Department of Homeland Security defended its procurement strategy in an official statement, noting that ICE constantly assesses field equipment needs to ensure officers can safely execute arrests and removals in compliance with applicable standards. However, local and federal officials have voiced strong opposition. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her outrage at a press conference, warning that immigration agents misusing the technology within her state could face civil and criminal consequences. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost, and Delia Ramirez, argued on social media that the equipment offers unnecessary escalation rather than safety in federal operations.