Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a $16.7 million no‑bid contract with Kentucky‑based Compliant Technologies LLC for 6,000 electric‑shock gloves, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter). The agency says the gloves will give officers another option when dealing with illegal aliens who resist arrest or attempt to flee.
Local experience informs federal purchase
The same gloves have been in use for more than a year at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas. Sheriff Bill Waybourn told Fox 4 KDFW the device has been employed several times and, in his view, has “completely successful” outcomes without injuries to officers or detainees. Waybourn believes the technology could be useful for law‑enforcement agencies beyond detention facilities, including ICE.
How the gloves work
When an officer activates the electrical mode, conductive pads on the palm deliver a painful shock to exposed skin. The shock is intended to distract the peripheral nervous system, making coordinated muscle movement difficult and prompting compliance. The manufacturer recommends a maximum activation time of 15 seconds and advises against use on elderly people, pregnant women, small children, or severely handicapped individuals.
Intended uses and safeguards
ICE says the gloves may be used during arrests, while transporting combative detainees, and in civil disturbances near detention facilities. They could also help prevent escapes, keep hands visible for handcuffing, and assist with crowd control. Agency officials argue the tool could reduce reliance on more severe force, such as firearms.
Opposition and oversight concerns
Democratic senators, including Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D‑NV), have urged ICE to abandon the purchase, citing worries about proportionality, medical safety, constitutional rights, training, and documentation. Critics note that ICE officers already face scrutiny over use‑of‑force incidents and warn that a pain‑inducing device could be misused.
Department of Homeland Security response
A DHS spokesperson said ICE continuously assesses officer needs to ensure they have the tools required to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from the United States. The agency emphasized that ICE personnel receive extensive de‑escalation training and that any technology must comply with law‑enforcement policies and standards.
The contract includes the gloves, supporting equipment, and six months of service, with each glove priced at $2,495. The purchase expands a technology previously limited to local law‑enforcement agencies and jails, now moving into federal immigration enforcement.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
