ICE Electric Shock Gloves Procurement

The Trump administration, through the United States — United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), plans to equip United States — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with electric shock gloves, known as the G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), manufactured by United States — Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies LLC LLC. The procurement notice, published on August 10, 2026, indicates a no-bid contract worth up to $20 million to purchase thousands of devices for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) personnel, with deliveries expected by March 2027. The gloves deliver a painful electrical stimulus upon direct skin contact to gain compliance from resistant individuals. The plan has drawn immediate backlash from Democratic officials, including United States — New York Attorney General Letitia James, and civil rights advocates such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who argue the devices could lead to excessive force and misuse. Critics point to a pending lawsuit alleging a man died in 2024 after being shocked 27 times with the gloves at the United States — Laurens County Detention Center in United States — Kentucky. The manufacturer warns against use on vulnerable populations and as punishment. DHS defends the purchase as necessary for officer safety, while former ICE acting director John Sandweg and law professor Michael Mann express concerns about potential misuse. The solicitation could be released as early as Friday, and the contract would last through March 31, 2027.