ICE Plans $20 Million Spend on Electric Shock Gloves
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency plans to spend up to $20 million on electric shock gloves for its agents. This decision has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union and other rights advocates to warn of increased harm and less accountability. ICE officers will be issued the CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or GLOVE units, which are described as “a Conductive Distraction and De-escalation Device” to disrupt an individual’s capacity to respond.
The electric shock gloves are intended for use by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers and agents. The Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part, stated that every decision is made with careful consideration and is reviewed to ensure that any technology ICE utilizes is consistent with all applicable law enforcement policies and standards. However, rights groups have expressed concerns over the potential for excessive force and the lack of accountability.
The procurement plan comes amid nationwide protests against ICE’s tactics, including fatal shootings by ICE agents and concerns over conditions in ICE detention centers. More than 50 people have died in ICE custody nationwide since President Donald Trump took office.
The ACLU has condemned the move, stating that giving immigration agents “a concealed means of delivering terrible pain is a recipe for more harm to the public and less accountability.” The use of electric shock gloves has sparked a heated debate over the use of force by ICE agents and the need for greater accountability and transparency.
