The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to spend up to $20 million to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with electric-shock gloves, sparking alarm from civil rights groups and lawmakers over potential misuse and safety risks.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent agency of ICE, announced plans to allocate up to $20 million to purchase conductive distraction and de-escalation devices
for officers, including the G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) gloves, which can deliver electric shocks to enforce compliance. The initiative, set to be completed by March 2027, has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates, lawmakers, and legal experts who warn of the devices’ potential for abuse and harm.
Controversial Gloves and Past Incidents
The gloves, manufactured by Compliant Technologies, are designed to deliver electric shocks when activated by a button on the glove and applied to bare skin. They are marketed as non-lethal tools for law enforcement, corrections, and emergency services, but their use has been linked to serious incidents. In 2024, a 43-year-old man in Kentucky died after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 additional times with a Taser in a county jail in Kentucky, according to a lawsuit filed by his widow. An internal investigation found that two of the shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds, far exceeding the manufacturer’s 15-second limit.
Civil rights advocates argue that the gloves’ deployment risks escalating violence. Sarah Mehta, deputy director of government affairs at the ACLU, stated, There are no circumstances where we think their use is appropriate.
She criticized ICE’s track record of lawless and violent enforcement actions,
noting that the agency has faced scrutiny for its use of force during deportations under President Donald Trump. What’s really terrifying is use of them on the streets, potentially to terrify people, to create a chilling effect,
Mehta said.
Lawmakers Urge Immediate Halt
The trio emphasized that the gloves require significant training and restraint
and should not be entrusted to an agency with a history of violent enforcement. They pointed to a pending lawsuit alleging that the gloves were used in a 2024 incident where a man died after being shocked 27 times with the device and 13 additional times with a Taser at a jail in Richmond, Kentucky. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the procurement, stating that ICE constantly assesses the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country.
Manufacturers’ Warnings and Limited Deployment
Compliant Technologies, the manufacturer of the gloves, includes explicit warnings in its user manual, advising against use on elderly people, small children, pregnant women and severely handicapped people. The device is also warned against being used in response to verbal defiance or for punishment, torture or horseplay. Despite these restrictions, the gloves have been deployed in at least 50 police departments across 20 states, according to an NPR analysis. In May 2025, the Omaha police department purchased 40 pairs of gloves to be used in public schools for just under $66,000, and 29 of its 34 school resource officers have trained in use of the gloves.
Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, appeared in a demonstration video where a volunteer shouted expletives and said, “Let me go!” after being shocked. Niklaus laughed as the man fell to the ground, saying, Say that louder.
The company did not respond to requests for comment from The Guardian. The gloves’ minimum voltage is 324 volts, and the maximum is 380 volts, while a Taser can typically fire prongs from a distance to incapacitate someone with 1,200 to 1,500 volts.
What’s Next for the $20 Million Plan?
The procurement is expected to cover between $10 million and $20 million worth of equipment, with the contract potentially running through March 31, 2027. ICE’s proposed purchase includes the gloves and other conductive distraction and de-escalation devices,
with the contract potentially running through March 31, 2027. Civil rights groups and lawmakers are pushing for stricter regulations, while DHS maintains that the agency’s decisions are consistent with all applicable law enforcement policies and standards.
The controversy reflects growing concerns about the militarization of immigration enforcement and the lack of accountability for agencies like ICE. With the gloves’ deployment expanding to schools and police departments, the debate over their use has taken on new urgency. As the federal government moves forward with the plan, the balance between law enforcement needs and human rights protections remains a contentious issue.
