US ICE agency to spend $16.7m on electric shock gloves

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has agreed to spend $16.7 million for 6,000 pairs of electric‑shock gloves, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from civil‑rights advocates and lawmakers. The purchase, made under a no‑bid contract with Kentucky‑based Compliant Technologies, will also include support equipment and services for the next six months, according to a federal procurement notice posted Thursday.

ICE described the gloves as “de‑escalation devices” that will be deployed in “high‑tension environments,” such as arrests, transport of combative detainees, and management of civil disturbances outside detention facilities. The agency said the gloves would be used when a subject is actively or passively resisting and an officer needs to gain control quickly to prevent injuries to both parties. The gloves are intended to help officers handle aggressive inmates, prevent escape attempts, force people to expose hidden hands for handcuffing, and manage crowds. ICE also said the gloves would provide an alternative to “more severe force” such as firearms and would be used under “approved policy, training, and accountability standards.”

The contract was struck amid growing opposition. A letter from a group of U.S. senators urged ICE to scrap the purchase, citing the agency’s record of force misuse in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston and Maine. The letter warned that the technology carries “substantial risks” during civil arrests if deployed without clear limits, proper training and independent oversight. Senators also called on ICE to publicly disclose how officers will be trained and how the use of the gloves will be documented and internally reviewed.

Civil‑rights groups have voiced concerns that the gloves provide a “concealed means of delivering terrible pain” and could increase harm to the public while reducing accountability. The American Civil Liberties Union said the move “is a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability.” The purchase comes after a series of high‑profile incidents involving ICE agents. Earlier this year, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by ICE agents in Minnesota, sparking protests and widespread criticism. Since the start of the Trump administration, more than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide.

ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, dismissed the criticism. In a statement, DHS said “Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from any safety equipment is despicable and a deliberate attempt to undermine and endanger our officers.” The statement also defended the agency’s use of the gloves as a necessary tool to protect officers and detainees.

The procurement notice, posted hours after the senators’ letter, noted that the gloves would be delivered over six months and that the contract was a no‑bid award. Compliant Technologies, the Kentucky firm, has not yet issued a statement about the contract. ICE has not released detailed training or oversight plans for the new equipment.

The purchase raises broader questions about ICE’s use of force and oversight. The agency has faced criticism for its handling of immigration enforcement, especially during the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy. Critics argue that ICE officers have operated with little oversight or accountability, leading to excessive use of force and a lack of transparency. The new gloves, which deliver painful shocks to detainees and protesters, are seen by many as a continuation of that trend.

The federal procurement notice is publicly available on the System for Award Management database, where the contract details can be accessed for further review. ICE’s decision to proceed with the purchase, despite the backlash, underscores ongoing tensions between federal law‑enforcement agencies and advocates for civil‑rights protections. The agency’s next steps, including training protocols and accountability measures, will likely be closely monitored by lawmakers and watchdog groups as the gloves begin to be deployed in the field.