Key facts
- ICE plans to spend up to $20 million on electric shock gloves for officers.
- The devices are called G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter).
- White House border czar Tom Homan defended the gloves as a tool to avoid deadly force.
- Civil rights groups have criticized the plan, citing concerns over use of force and accountability.
- The gloves are not yet deployed by ICE as training and policy issues are still being worked out.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency plans to purchase electric shock gloves, a move defended by White House border czar Tom Homan as a tool to help officers avoid using deadly force. The devices, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC and are intended to gain compliance through pain stimulus.
Homan stated on Fox News that the gloves offer a less lethal option, similar to Tasers or pepper spray, for situations where de-escalation is needed. This defense comes as the plan faces criticism from civil rights groups, Democrats, and use-of-force experts who point to past incidents of ICE agents using force and fatal shootings.
Nelson County Jailer Justin Hall reported his agency has used similar gloves for four years, describing them as effective in gaining compliance without incapacitating individuals or leaving significant marks. He noted the pain is intense but temporary and that the gloves have been a useful tool for his facility.
However, criminology professor Geoffrey Alpert advised that the devices require further study and that departments need proper guidance on their use. He suggested ICE might consider a smaller initial purchase given the limited knowledge about their application and the potential for user error without extensive training in de-escalation tactics.