New Electric Shock Gloves for ICE Agents

The Department of Homeland Security is said to be planning a significant investment in electric shock gloves for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, reportedly amounting to millions of dollars.

These gloves, developed by Compliant Technologies LLC from Lexington, Kentucky, are already being utilized by various police departments and some correctional facilities.

According to a DHS announcement, the agency is seeking around $20 million for the gloves, which are officially named GLOVE—short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. The gloves are designed to operate normally until activated into an electric mode, which requires direct contact with a target’s skin. The disruptive effect typically incapacitates the target within moments.

John Peters, director of the Institute for the Prevention of Deaths in Custody, discussed the gloves and noted their potential effectiveness. “It’s immediate and sharp, kind of like a bee sting,” he said. He emphasized that the gloves could be beneficial in situations where an officer faces resistance.

Peters also mentioned that, while there is a chance for misuse, it’s unlikely that serious injuries would occur as a result of this device.

Compliant Technologies’ founder, Jeff Niklaus, declined to provide further comments on the matter via email.

Training is a requirement for officers; they must complete a course on the gloves and undergo re-certification every two years. Peters added that these gloves could be particularly advantageous for smaller or older officers, allowing for quicker resolution of confrontations.

On the other hand, Jen Rolnick Borchetta from the American Civil Liberties Union raised concerns regarding the potential for misuse. She stated that ICE demonstrated last year a readiness to use force too quickly. With the addition of electric shock gloves, the risks could, in her view, increase. “This could lead to unnecessary pain in public encounters,” she warned.