ICE equips officers with electric shock gloves for enforcement
Consensus Summary
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is purchasing electric shock gloves, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), at a cost of up to $US20 million ($28 million). These gloves, manufactured by Compliant Technologies in Kentucky, deliver painful electric shocks when applied directly to skin, intended to de-escalate tense situations quickly. Both sources agree the gloves are marketed as nonlethal but warn against use on vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. ABC reports a 2024 incident where a 43-year-old man died after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 times by a taser, with two shocks lasting 45 and 99 seconds, exceeding the recommended 15-second limit. The Guardian notes the gloves are expected to be deployed by March and are effective in compliance within less than three seconds. Concerns about ICE’s use of force, particularly since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2024, have been raised by civil rights advocates and officials.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- ICE plans to spend up to $US20 million ($28 million) on electric shock gloves
- The gloves are called G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter)
- The gloves must be applied directly to skin to deliver a painful electric shock
- The gloves are manufactured by Compliant Technologies in Kentucky
- The gloves are marketed as nonlethal but warn against use on the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities
- The gloves are intended to de-escalate tense situations quickly
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- A 43-year-old man died in 2024 after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 more times by a taser in Richmond, Kentucky
- Two glove shocks lasted 45 and 99 seconds each, exceeding the manufacturer's recommended 15-second limit
- ICE officers have increasingly used force since President Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2024
- New York Attorney General Letitia James warned ICE officers who misuse the gloves could face criminal and civil consequences
- Federal agents conducted immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis in February
- The gloves are expected to be deployed by March
- The discomfort from the gloves is usually effective in bringing individuals into compliance in less than three seconds
- ICE’s planned purchase is likely the largest from Compliant Technologies to date
- Civil rights advocates expressed alarm at the plan, citing concerns about ICE’s use of force and lack of oversight
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the gloves cost $US20 million ($28 million), while the Guardian states the cost is up to $20m (£15m) without specifying the USD equivalent
- ABC mentions a 2024 death linked to the gloves, but the Guardian does not reference this specific incident
Source Articles
ICE plans to equip officers with electric shock gloves
A device designed to enforce compliance by delivering a painful electric shock is condemned by a former ICE director and elected officials.
ICE to spend up to $20m on gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks
According to manufacturer, shock ‘is usually effective in bringing individuals into compliance in less than three seconds’ ICE plans to spend up to $20m (£15m) to purchase thousands of gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. The devices, called Glove (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. Continue reading