U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is preparing to spend as much as $20 million on specialized gloves capable of delivering an electric shock, adding a new tool to the agency’s equipment for arrests and enforcement operations.
The devices, known as CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are being described by the agency as a conductive distraction and de-escalation device. The gloves are intended for personnel working with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
The planned purchase has already generated debate over how the technology could be used during encounters with civilians and detainees.
Gloves Can Deliver Up to 380 Volts
The G.L.O.V.E. system uses electrical stimulation when the glove comes into contact with exposed skin. According to information about the device, it can deliver as much as 380 volts and is designed to cause enough discomfort to encourage a person to comply within seconds.
The manufacturer, Compliant Technologies LLC, markets the equipment as a less-lethal option for law enforcement and other security personnel. The company says the technology is designed to avoid leaving burns, marks or scars under normal use.
However, the system does not work in the same way when contact is made through certain materials. Clothing, plastic, metal and fur can prevent the device from producing its intended effect.
ICE agents who receive the equipment will reportedly have to complete specialized training, with certification renewed every two years.
Civil Rights Groups Raise Concerns
The planned deployment comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement practices. Civil liberties organizations have expressed concern that adding another pain-inducing device to the agency’s arsenal could create additional risks, particularly if officers use it improperly or without sufficient oversight.
The American Civil Liberties Union has previously raised allegations involving excessive force and other civil rights concerns related to immigration enforcement. Critics argue that the introduction of electric-shock technology requires clear rules governing when and how agents can use it.
Supporters of the equipment, meanwhile, say having an additional less-lethal option could help officers handle confrontations without immediately resorting to firearms or other potentially deadly measures.
ICE Says Equipment Is Intended to Support Officer Safety
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the planned acquisition, saying ICE regularly evaluates what equipment its officers need to safely carry out arrests and removals.
The official contract for the gloves is expected to provide further details about the purchase and deployment plans. The proposal has nevertheless become part of a broader national discussion about the use of force by federal immigration officers and the level of training and accountability required when new enforcement technologies are introduced.
As ICE moves forward with the procurement, questions surrounding oversight, training and appropriate use are likely to remain central to the debate.
