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ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on thousands of G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) gloves, which deliver painful electric shocks to gain compliance from combative individuals, with a contract solicitation expected soon.
- The gloves function as normal patrol gloves until activated to deliver a sharp, bee sting-like electrical stimulus directly to a person's skin, intended to quickly subdue resistance during enforcement actions.
- Civil rights advocates express serious concerns about potential misuse, citing ICE's history of excessive force and lack of accountability, and question the necessity of such devices in civil immigration enforcement.
- Supporters argue the gloves are effective tools for quickly controlling violent or uncooperative individuals in specific situations, such as jail transport or removal from vehicles, and emphasize the need for proper training and policies.
- The manufacturer requires officers to complete training and biennial recertification to use the devices, but experts acknowledge some risk of misuse despite the gloves' low likelihood of causing injury.
