In brief
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department is moving to buy up to $20 million worth of Generatted Low Output Voltage Emitter gloves, devices that can deliver up to 380 volts of electricity to detainees during enforcement operations. The gloves are intended for use in ICE operations but have sparked civil‑rights alarm, with groups warning of potential abuse and harm. DHS says the devices will help officers safely arrest and detain individuals, while civil‑rights advocates accuse ICE of using force that undermines legal protections. The move adds to ongoing debate about ICE's use of force and accountability for its agents.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department is preparing to buy up to 20 million dollars worth of Generatted Low Output Voltage Emitter gloves, devices that can deliver up to 380 volts of electricity to detainees during enforcement operations.
The gloves would be used by ICE agents in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) to help “the subjects understand that pain will be used” and encourage compliance. Each glove can deliver up to 30 pulses per second and includes a microprocessor that records every activation.
DHS officials said the purchase would be “a no‑bid contract” potentially starting as early as Friday, and stated that the gloves are part of ICE’s ongoing assessment of officer equipment needs.
Compliant Technologies, the manufacturer, cautions users against applying the gloves to “the elderly, small children, pregnant women and the severely handicapped” and recommends an additional officer to restrain the subject during use.
Civil‑rights advocates, notably the American Civil Liberties Union, express alarm over the deployment of these devices, citing concerns that ICE agents may use them to override legal protections and potentially cause serious harm.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE following fatal shootings and broader calls for greater accountability in immigration enforcement.
With reporting by Max Matza.
