U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved a $16.7 million contract to acquire 6,000 pairs of gloves designed to administer electric shocks for controlling resistant detainees and protesters. Despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the purchase, citing the need for these “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices.” The contract was awarded to Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company, and covers the acquisition of the gloves and related equipment over the next six months.
Critics have raised concerns about ICE’s use of force, particularly in light of recent incidents involving fatalities during encounters with ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Following public outcry over such incidents, ICE has scaled back high-profile deportation operations in major cities. However, data from July showed a spike in arrests, with a significant portion of those arrested having no prior criminal records.
In response to ICE’s plan, a group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, urged the agency to reconsider the purchase of the electric shock gloves. The senators expressed doubts about the necessity and proper use of such devices, citing instances of excessive force by ICE officers across different locations.
The gloves appear like standard patrol gloves until activated to deliver an electric shock upon contact with the skin. ICE stated that these devices would be utilized in high-stress situations, such as making arrests, handling combative individuals, and managing civil disturbances. The intention behind using these gloves is to swiftly gain control over resistant individuals to prevent harm, avoiding the need for more severe measures like firearms.
ICE defended the purchase, emphasizing the importance of maintaining control over detainees and ensuring officer safety. The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s overseeing agency, condemned criticism of the contract as an attempt to undermine the agency’s operations.
This procurement is part of a series of no-bid contracts under the Trump administration, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from Democrats for various government acquisitions, including airplanes, detention facilities, and infrastructure projects like the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and Lafayette Park fountains.
