Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to equip agents with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks to individuals during confrontations.
The move introduces a new tool for federal agents to use during arrests and detentions. Critics and observers said the technology could significantly alter the nature of physical encounters between federal officers and the public.
Reports first surfaced in June 2024 regarding the agency's intent to acquire the equipment. The program carries a planned budget of $20 million [1]. These gloves are designed to deliver painful electrical discharges, which agents can use to gain compliance from individuals who are combative.
The agency said it intends to use the devices to de-escalate encounters. However, reporting indicates the gloves could be deployed against a variety of targets, including protesters and undocumented immigrants.
Federal operations in the U.S. often involve high-tension environments where agents must secure individuals quickly. The use of electrical shock technology is not new to law enforcement, most notably through the use of Tasers, but integrating the capability into a glove allows for a different method of application during hand-to-hand contact.
ICE has not provided detailed public guidelines on the specific thresholds for using the gloves. The agency said its goal remains the subduing of non-compliant individuals to ensure the safety of officers during field operations.
“ICE plans to spend up to $20 million on electrical shock gloves for agents.”
The adoption of shock-integrated wearable technology marks a shift toward more immediate, tactile compliance tools in federal immigration enforcement. By moving electrical discharge capabilities from a projectile or probe-based system to a glove, ICE agents can apply force more fluidly during physical struggles. This increases the potential for frequent, low-level electrical shocks during arrests, which may raise legal and human rights questions regarding the proportionality of force used during administrative detentions.
