U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved a $16.7 million contract to procure 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of administering painful electric shocks. The purpose is for officers to manage detainees and demonstrators who resist authority.
Despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the purchase. The agency’s intention to buy thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” was made public in a recent notice.
A notice released in a federal database revealed that ICE secured a no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company that manufactures the gloves. The contract involves acquiring 6,000 devices, support equipment, and services over the next six months.
Critics argue that ICE officers already face scrutiny for their use of force without adequate oversight while enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. There have been instances of fatalities involving interactions with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) since last year.
Following the deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, ICE scaled back high-profile deportation operations in major U.S. cities to address public outrage. Despite recording a peak monthly arrest total in July, a significant portion of those detained had no criminal convictions or charges.
ICE’s notice came shortly after a group of senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, urged the agency to cancel the glove purchase. The lawmakers expressed concerns about ICE’s capability to responsibly deploy such devices.
The gloves appear ordinary until activated to deliver an electric shock upon direct contact with the skin. ICE plans to use them in situations requiring swift control to prevent harm during arrests, detainee transport, and civil disturbances.
The use of these gloves is intended to minimize the need for more forceful measures, such as firearms. ICE stated that the gloves would be utilized in line with approved policies, training, and oversight standards.
Critics, including Cortez Masto and other senators, cautioned about the potential risks associated with deploying such devices, especially in civil arrest scenarios lacking clear guidelines, proper training, and oversight.
In response to criticism, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, defended the purchase, labeling it as an essential measure to protect officers from harm.
This contract is part of a series of no-bid contracts awarded by the Trump administration, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from Democrats. Similar contracts have been issued for various purposes, including aircraft acquisitions and detention facility expansions.