ICE will purchase stun gloves for its agents that can deliver painful electric shocks.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to arm its officers with special gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks to coerce the compliance of people who resist, according to reports. Associated Press.

According to data released on August 10 by the US Department of Homeland Security, the agency intends to spend $20 million by March to purchase thousands of such devices – so-called conductive diversion and de-escalation devices.

The devices are called GLOVE, an acronym for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. They are manufactured by Compliant Technologies in Lexington, Kentucky. In recent years, these gloves have already been used in some prisons and police departments.

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On August 11, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced it was preparing a response to the Associated Press's inquiry but did not immediately provide comment. Compliant Technologies founder and CEO Jeff Nicklaus said in an email, "Unfortunately, we are unable to comment on this matter."

The notice states that the contract announcement without a tender could be published as early as August 14.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern about these plans, saying ICE officers are already facing criticism for their use of force with weak oversight and a virtual lack of accountability, especially given the tightening of immigration policies under President Donald Trump.

Compliant Technologies explained that in normal mode, the device functions like standard patrol gloves. To activate the electric mode, the officer presses a switch. For the gloves to work, they must come into contact with the wearer's skin, which then generates a pain impulse, which, according to the manufacturer, compels compliance within a few seconds.

"It's an immediate, sharp sensation, and it's distracting. I liken it to a bee sting," said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of Deaths in Custody, which studies the use of these devices. "If a person offers any resistance, it's certainly an effective tool."

Peters noted that ICE's planned purchase is likely to be the company's largest to date. He suggests that officers will use these gloves, for example, to extract uncooperative individuals from cars and homes, as well as when moving detainees within detention facilities.

"For less physically fit, older, or shorter employees, this provides a significant advantage," he said. "It allows them to deal with the situation more quickly and shorten the duration of the confrontation."

The manufacturer warns that the device should not be used as a form of punishment, or against people who merely verbally express dissatisfaction or behave aggressively, or against vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy director of the Policing Project at the American Civil Liberties Union, stated that the public has no reason to trust ICE officers to use such devices appropriately. She questioned the need for such devices in civilian immigration enforcement, noting that people could be shocked without warning.

"Over the past year, ICE has shown that it's too reckless with force. Now, it will be able to deliver electric shocks with the press of a button, and those around it might not even notice," she said. "The introduction of gloves that make it so easy to inflict severe pain on contact is a detriment to society."

Proponents of the innovation argue that such devices are typically used in highly specific situations—in detention centers or during transport—rather than for routine street patrols. According to Compliant Technologies, they have been used to subdue aggressive suspects refusing to enter police cars, as well as inmates harming themselves or threatening officers.

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Peters believes that, like any other technology in law enforcement, these devices can be misused by individual officers, but overall, they are unlikely to cause injuries. He emphasized, however, that it is crucial for ICE to develop clear guidelines for their use and ensure high-quality training for its personnel.

According to the manufacturer, to use the device, employees must complete a special course and then renew their qualifications every two years.

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