Full Breakdown
ICE Plans $20 Million Purchase of Electric-Shock Gloves
8/14/2026, 9:16:15 AM
Core Event
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a procurement to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with “Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters” (G.L.O.V.E.) gloves that deliver an electric shock when the wearer presses a button and contacts skin. The notice estimates spending between $10 million and $20 million, with deliveries expected by March 2027. The devices are manufactured by Compliant Technologies of Lexington, Kentucky, and are described as “conductive distraction and de-escalation” tools.
Background & Context
The proposal emerges amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement and heightened scrutiny of ICE’s use-of-force policies. Similar gloves have been adopted by several jails and police departments, but ICE has not previously fielded the technology. The procurement is structured as a potential no-bid contract, reflecting the agency’s urgency.
Timeline
- March 22 2023 – Demonstration at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.
- June 3 2025 – Omaha City Council approved a purchase of 40 glove pairs for local police.
- May 28 2026 – Manufacturer’s manual notes activation by button press and required direct skin contact.
- March 26 2026 – ICE officers observed at a Houston airport checkpoint.
- By March 2027 – DHS plans to deliver the gloves to ICE’s HSI and ERO units.
Data & Statistics
- Gloves can deliver up to 380 volts; earlier models ranged from 210 volts to 362 volts.
- Manufacturer guidance limits each application to roughly 15 seconds and advises against use on children, pregnant women, the elderly, or severely disabled individuals.
- ICE has faced at least ten fatal shootings since the start of the current administration, according to agency reports.
Official Statements & Responses
A DHS spokesperson said, “ICE is constantly assessing the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country.”
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights groups and elected officials have objected. New York Attorney General Letitia James warned that any injury in the state could trigger private lawsuits and state action. The ACLU expressed doubt ICE would employ the devices appropriately, citing recent rapid force escalations. Several Democratic lawmakers called the purchase “cruel” and “unnecessary,” linking it to broader concerns about ICE’s budget and tactics.
On-the-Ground Reports
Law-enforcement agencies that have deployed the gloves report mixed outcomes. Omaha Police recorded two successful de-escalations this year without injuries. In Kentucky, a former inmate sued after receiving multiple shocks, and an internal investigation found two applications exceeded the recommended 15-second limit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Public documents do not specify the exact number of gloves to be purchased or the per-unit cost. DHS has not disclosed detailed training curricula, oversight mechanisms, or how activation events will be recorded—issues highlighted by advocacy groups seeking transparency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s another device to help someone get compliant when they are not,” — Tom Homan
- “That appears to me on its face to be a violation of civil rights to cause that kind of physical harm to an individual, regardless of what the offense may be,” — Gov. Kathy Hochul
- “We’re only grabbing enough motor units across the skin to stimulate the peripheral nervous system. Just the sensory portion of that. So, we don’t cause any injury with our device,” — Justin Morris
These statements capture the range of official justification and civil-rights criticism surrounding the planned acquisition.
