U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is set to allocate up to $20 million for a new batch of electric‑shock gloves for field agents, a move that could intensify the agency’s use‑of‑force toolkit and draw heightened scrutiny from oversight bodies.
The devices, branded G.L.O.V.E. (CTG‑5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) and produced by Kentucky‑based Compliant Technologies, function as ordinary patrol gloves until a button activates a voltage that must contact skin to cause sharp pain. ICE plans a no‑bid solicitation that could be published by Friday, and officers will be required to complete a certification course with recertification every two years, making this the company’s largest contract to date.
Civil‑rights groups, including the ACLU, warn that concealed electric shocks could expand abuse and erode public trust, while New York Attorney General Letitia James has signaled potential criminal and civil liability for misuse. Critics argue the tools are unnecessary for immigration enforcement and may exacerbate protests against ICE’s heightened enforcement under the Trump administration.
Legal challenges remain unresolved: a pending lawsuit alleges a detainee died after being shocked 27 times with the gloves, and an internal investigation found two incidents where shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds, far above the manufacturer’s 15‑second limit. Courts have dismissed related cases, but the outcomes of current claims could shape future agency policy and liability.