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 agency stated that these gloves would be utilized by officers to manage detainees and demonstrators who resist.
Despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the procurement of the gloves. The agency’s intentions were made public recently through a notice announcing the acquisition of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for its personnel.
An announcement in a federal database revealed that ICE signed a no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company, to acquire 6,000 of these devices along with necessary equipment and services over the next six months.
Critics argue that ICE officers have been under scrutiny for their use of force during immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. Incidents resulting in fatalities involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been reported since last year.
Following the high-profile shooting deaths of American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti, ICE has shifted focus away from large-scale deportation operations in major U.S. cities. Despite the administration’s emphasis on targeting violent criminals, data from July indicated that a significant portion of those arrested had no prior convictions or pending criminal charges.
ICE released the notice shortly after a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, urged the agency to abandon its plan to purchase the electric shock gloves. In a letter to ICE’s acting director, Cortez Masto and other Democratic senators expressed concerns about the potential misuse of such devices.
The gloves appear as standard patrol gloves until activated to deliver an electric shock upon contact with the skin. ICE specified that these devices would be used in high-stress situations such as arrests, detainee transportation, and response to civil disturbances.
The intended purpose of the gloves is to subdue subjects without resorting to more severe measures like firearms. ICE mentioned that the devices would be deployed in accordance with approved policies, training protocols, and accountability standards.
Despite criticisms, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, defended the purchase, condemning the opposition as an attempt to undermine and jeopardize officers’ safety.
This contract is part of a series of no-bid contracts awarded by the Trump administration, drawing scrutiny from Democrats. Similar procurement practices have been criticized in other government contracts, including those for airplanes, detention facilities, and public infrastructure projects.