ICE Plans Up to $20 Million Shock-Glove Purchase

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to spend up to $20 million on CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E. electric shock gloves for its agents, described as conductive distraction and de-escalation devices meant for Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. The gloves deliver up to 380 volts through bare skin and could be purchased in potentially thousands with delivery expected by March 2027. DHS and ICE say the equipment is intended to enhance officer safety and help arrests and removals, but critics worry the devices could escalate violence and be misused in immigration enforcement under President Trump's administration. Civil liberties groups, Amnesty International, and the Center for Victims of Torture warn the gloves could facilitate torture or abusive misconduct without adequate safeguards or accountability. Some proponents argue the gloves could reduce the need for more dangerous force, while observers note the lack of transparent justification or clear deployment policies and the procurement’s non-competitive nature. The reports collectively underscore a broader debate over ICE’s use of force, training, and oversight as immigration enforcement policies remain highly contested.