U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has secured a $16.7 million contract to procure 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of administering painful electric shocks. These gloves are intended for use by officers to manage detainees and demonstrators who resist authorities.
Despite facing opposition from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the purchase. The agency’s plan was made public when it announced its intention to buy “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for its personnel.
ICE recently finalized a no-bid agreement with Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company that manufactures these gloves. The contract encompasses the acquisition of 6,000 devices, along with associated equipment and services, to be delivered over the next six months.
Critics argue that ICE officers already lack sufficient oversight and accountability in their use of force, particularly during the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Incidents resulting in fatalities, including those involving protesters, have occurred during interactions with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) since last year.
Following the shooting deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this year, ICE has shifted away from high-profile deportation operations in major U.S. cities due to public backlash. Despite recording a spike in arrests in July, data reveals that over half of those detained had no prior criminal convictions or were not facing charges.
The purchase of electric shock gloves by ICE has drawn criticism from Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and her colleagues, who raised concerns about the agency’s justification for acquiring such devices. These gloves appear as ordinary patrol gloves until an officer activates their electrical mode, delivering a shock upon direct contact with the skin to gain compliance from resistant individuals.
ICE specified that officers would use these gloves in situations of heightened tension, such as during arrests, detainee transport, and responses to civil disturbances near detention facilities. The intended purpose is to swiftly control non-compliant subjects to prevent harm to both parties, replacing the need for more aggressive measures like firearms.
While ICE asserts that the gloves will be utilized in accordance with approved policies, training, and accountability standards, critics warn of significant risks associated with their deployment in civil arrest scenarios without clear guidelines and oversight. The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, has defended the purchase, denouncing criticism as an attempt to undermine officer safety.
This contract, awarded without competitive bidding, is the latest in a series of such agreements under the Trump administration, drawing condemnation from Democrats. Similar no-bid contracts have been issued for various acquisitions by the Department of Homeland Security, including airplanes and detention facilities, sparking further controversy.