ICE to Spend $20M on Electric Shock Gloves for Officers
ICE plans to spend up to $20 million on electric shock gloves for officers.
Why it matters: This acquisition raises key questions for legal and policy advisors about use-of-force policies, civil rights compliance, and potential litigation risks related to detention and enforcement operations.
- ICE plans to invest between $10 million and $20 million to acquire electric shock gloves known as G.L.O.V.E.
- The gloves deliver electrical shocks intended to temporarily disable muscle control by targeting skin contact areas.
- Officers in Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations will use the gloves, with required training and recertification every two years.
- ICE is increasing body camera use as part of oversight efforts following prior use-of-force controversies involving detainees.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has authorized a contract expected to cost between $10 million and $20 million for electric shock gloves called Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.), per a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice issued in August 2026.Axios reported that these gloves administer a controlled electrical shock directly to the skin to disrupt coordinated muscle movements, temporarily incapacitating detainees without permanent injury.
Use of the gloves is limited to ICE officers working in Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations. The device operates via a switch and must maintain direct skin contact to activate. However, the specific electrical parameters, such as voltage and duration, remain undisclosed by ICE, limiting external assessment of potential risks.
Officers authorized to deploy the gloves must complete training programs and participate in recertification every two years to ensure proper usage. Despite this, details about the training curriculum, independent oversight, and accountability mechanisms are not publicly available, raising transparency concerns among legal observers.
In parallel, ICE plans to expand the deployment of body-worn cameras on officers during enforcement actions. This measure responds to prior reports of excessive force and aims to provide clearer evidence in potential investigations, as noted in Associated Press coverage.
Civil rights advocates express worries that introducing electric shock gloves could lead to increased risks of misuse or excessive force, especially given past ICE controversies. Legal professionals such as Samantha Rivera, a civil rights attorney specializing in detention law, caution that "without transparent training and robust oversight, the risk of violations of detainee rights increases significantly." Jeff Niklaus, CEO of Compliant Technologies LLC—the company producing the G.L.O.V.E. gloves—declined to comment on ICE’s acquisition plans.
For legal and policy advisors, the issue centers on balancing operational effectiveness in managing detainee resistance with safeguarding detainees’ constitutional rights and ensuring regulatory compliance. The expanded use of body cameras may help improve accountability, but experts emphasize that without clear protocols and public reporting, the gloves’ deployment could invite litigation risks related to use-of-force excesses.
By the numbers:
- $10M–$20M — ICE budgeted for electric shock gloves acquisition
- August 2026 — Department of Homeland Security authorized procurement
- 2 years — Interval for officer recertification on glove usage
Yes, but: While ICE mandates officer training and body camera use to mitigate risks, details on training protocols and independent oversight remain limited, leaving room for concern about potential misuse.
What's next: Legal and civil rights groups are expected to monitor ICE’s glove deployment closely and may pursue public records requests or litigation if transparency or misuse issues arise.