U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to equip officers with electrically charged gloves designed to deliver painful shocks to individuals who physically resist arrest, with the agency planning to spend as much as $20 million on the technology in the coming months.
According to a Department of Homeland Security procurement notice released Monday, ICE intends to acquire thousands of what are described as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March. The purchase would be made through a sole-source contract.
The equipment, known as the G.L.O.V.E.—short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter—is produced by Compliant Technologies LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky. The gloves have already been introduced by several correctional facilities and law enforcement agencies in recent years.
When contacted about the planned purchase, DHS said Tuesday it was preparing a response to questions from The Associated Press but did not immediately comment. Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, also declined to discuss the matter, writing in an email, “Unfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject.”
The procurement notice indicates that the formal request for the no-bid contract could be issued as early as Friday.
The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from civil liberties groups, which argue that ICE has already faced repeated scrutiny over its use of force while carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies and that additional force options raise further concerns about accountability.
According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves function like standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode by pressing a switch. Once activated, direct contact with a person’s skin delivers a painful electrical stimulus intended to quickly gain compliance.
“It’s immediate and sharp, and it will distract you. I call it like a bee sting,” said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths, who is studying how the device has been used. “If the officer is getting any type of resistance from the person, this is certainly an effective tool.”
Peters said the planned ICE acquisition would likely represent the company’s largest order to date. He said he expects the gloves could be used during arrests at homes or vehicles, as well as while transporting detainees or managing individuals inside detention centers.
“For smaller officers or weaker officers or older officers, I think it has a great advantage” because it can produce faster takedowns and shorten confrontations, he said.
The manufacturer cautions that the gloves are not intended as a form of punishment and should not be used against individuals displaying only “verbal defiance or belligerence.” It also advises against using the device on higher-risk groups, including children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.
Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the public has little reason to trust ICE will exercise appropriate restraint. She questioned why such technology is necessary in civil immigration enforcement and noted that those subjected to the shocks may receive no warning beforehand.
“ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do,” she said. “Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.”
Backers of the technology say its use has generally been confined to controlled settings such as jails and prisoner transport operations rather than routine street patrols. According to Compliant Technologies, the gloves have helped officers subdue violent suspects refusing to enter police vehicles and inmates who were harming themselves or threatening correctional staff.
Peters acknowledged that, like other law enforcement equipment, the gloves could be abused by a small number of officers. However, he said he does not believe the devices are likely to cause significant injuries if used properly, stressing that comprehensive training and clear operational policies will be essential.
The manufacturer says officers are required to complete specialized instruction before being authorized to use the gloves and must undergo recertification every two years to remain qualified.
{Matzav.com}
