U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers may soon be equipped with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals. According to a notice published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, ICE plans to spend between $10 million and $20 million to purchase these "conductive distraction and de-escalation devices" by March 2027.

The devices, called G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC based in Lexington, Kentucky. They have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments to subdue violent suspects refusing to comply or inmates harming themselves and threatening officers.

The gloves must be applied directly to a person's skin to deliver a pain stimulus that typically helps officers gain compliance within seconds. A DHS spokesperson told CBS News, "ICE is constantly assessing the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country."

Peters from Compliant Technologies said he believed ICE's planned purchase would likely be the largest from the company to date. The solicitation for a no-bid contract could be published as early as Friday, August 14, 2026.

Civil rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, expressed alarm at the plan, noting that ICE officers have already faced criticism for their use of force during President Trump's immigration crackdown.

The gloves are described as delivering an immediate and sharp sensation, comparable to a bee sting, which distracts the individual. ICE representatives highlighted the gloves' advantages for smaller, weaker, or older officers and their effectiveness when encountering resistance.

Sources