U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has granted a $16.7 million contract to procure 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of administering painful electric shocks. The agency stated that these gloves would be utilized by officers to manage detainees and demonstrators who resist.
Despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the procurement. The agency’s plan was made public recently when a notice was issued regarding the acquisition of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and investigators.
A notice released in a federal database indicated that ICE had entered a no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies LLC, a company based in Kentucky that manufactures these gloves. The agreement includes the purchase of 6,000 devices, along with accompanying equipment and services to be delivered over the next six months.
Critics have raised concerns about ICE officers’ use of force, citing minimal oversight and accountability, especially during the enforcement of former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Incidents involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have resulted in fatalities, including those of protesters.
Following the deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year, ICE scaled back its high-profile deportation operations in major U.S. cities due to public outrage and demonstrations. Despite a spike in arrests in July, with a focus on removing violent criminals, data revealed that a significant portion of those detained had no criminal convictions or pending charges.
ICE’s notice came shortly after a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, urged the agency to cancel the glove purchase. The senators questioned the necessity of such devices and expressed concerns about potential misuse by ICE officers.
The gloves function as standard patrol gloves until activated to deliver an electric shock. They are designed to be used in situations of resistance, such as arrests, detainee transportation, and managing civil disturbances near detention facilities.
ICE stated that the gloves would be employed in “high-tension environments” to prevent injuries and gain control swiftly when dealing with resistant individuals. The devices are intended to be an alternative to more severe forms of force and are to be used in accordance with approved policies, training, and accountability standards.
Despite criticism and calls for reform, ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, defended the purchase as essential for officer safety. The procurement is part of a series of no-bid contracts issued by the Trump administration, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers.
The acquisition of these electric shock gloves has sparked debate and raised concerns about their potential misuse and the need for proper oversight and training in their deployment.