U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to purchase thousands [1] of electric-shock gloves to subdue individuals during immigration enforcement operations.
The procurement represents a shift in the agency's approach to force. While the government presents the gloves as a way to reduce fatalities, civil-rights organizations argue the devices could be used to inflict pain without oversight.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the agency will spend up to $20 million [2] on the gloves, which are manufactured by Compliant Technologies. The procurement process was slated for completion by March 2026 [2].
The Trump administration said the gloves provide officers with a less-lethal option. This equipment is intended to help agents avoid more serious uses of force during confrontations in detention facilities and in the field.
Critics have questioned the intended use of the technology. The New Republic said the gloves are billed as a “low-optics” tool that can de-escalate confrontations without lethal force.
However, human rights advocates warn that the nature of the device invites abuse. Amnesty International said the gloves are “readily misused for torture,” according to reporting from Mother Jones.
The rollout occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of ICE's use-of-force protocols. While the agency promotes these non-lethal tools, some reports suggest that lethal force remains a primary tactic in the field, including instances where agents have pointed firearms at detainees.
“ICE will spend up to $20 million by March on gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks to subdue an individual.”
The adoption of electric-shock gloves highlights a tension between the desire for 'less-lethal' compliance tools and the risk of systemic abuse. By utilizing a device that is less visible than a Taser or firearm, the agency may reduce the immediate visual evidence of force, which critics argue could lead to an increase in undocumented pain-compliance techniques within detention centers.
