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ICE plans to spend up to $20 million on electrical shock gloves for agents
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend $10-$20 million on CTG 5 G.L.O.V.E. gloves, which deliver electrical shocks intended to de-escalate encounters with individuals, with delivery expected by March 31, 2027.
- The gloves emit up to 380 volts to inhibit coordinated muscle movement and must make direct skin contact; they are meant to supplement existing law enforcement tools and require user certification and recertification every two years.
- Critics, including civil rights groups like the ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center, have condemned the plan, warning it could lead to abuse and excessive use of force by ICE officers.
- Similar gloves have been used in other law enforcement settings, such as Oklahoma County Jail, where officials claim they produce compliance quickly without causing injury, though there have been past incidents involving misuse leading to criminal charges.
- The Department of Homeland Security has not yet provided a detailed response, and the contract for the gloves may be awarded without a bidding process as early as this week.
