ICE to spend $20 million on electric shock gloves for 4,000 officers

ICE will receive new gloves that can deliver electric shocks, a move announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday. The agency plans to spend up to $20 million on a device called a Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or G.L.O.V.E., that can be worn by officers during immigration detentions. The notice says the gloves will be tested in the next few months and could be deployed nationwide if the trials are successful.

The decision follows a long‑standing debate over the use of force by immigration enforcement. ICE has been criticised for using batons, pepper spray and, in some cases, tasers on detainees. Civil‑rights groups say that any new weapon raises the risk of abuse, especially in facilities where detainees already face limited medical care. The G.L.O.V.E. is marketed as a low‑output device that would provide a brief shock, but experts warn that even a mild shock can be painful and potentially harmful if misused. The device is part of a broader trend of agencies seeking “smart” tools to control crowds, a trend that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers who worry about civil‑rights violations.

According to the DHS notice, the gloves will cost about $500 each, and the agency plans to equip roughly 4,000 officers in the first year. The budget also covers training, maintenance and a compliance review. The notice cites a pilot program in a single detention center that began last year, where officers reported the gloves helped prevent altercations. However, the U.S. Department of Justice and several non‑profit watchdogs have called for a full review of the device’s safety and legal implications before it is rolled out. ICE officials say the gloves will be used only as a last resort and that officers will receive extensive training.

If the trial proves successful, ICE could roll out the gloves across its network of immigration detention facilities by late 2025. The move will likely prompt congressional hearings and a flurry of lawsuits from civil‑rights advocates who fear the new technology could be used to punish detainees. The debate touches on broader questions about how immigration enforcement balances security with humane treatment, a question that will continue to dominate policy discussions in Washington.