The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to spend about $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, according to a federal procurement filing. The devices, called GLOVE, are described by the agency as “conductive distraction and de-escalation” tools.
Made by Compliant Technologies LLC, the gloves look and function like ordinary patrol gear until an officer activates an electrical switch, delivering a pain stimulus through direct skin contact intended to gain compliance within seconds. Similar devices are already used in some jails and police departments.
The contract would outfit Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations officers, with deliveries expected by March 2027. Civil rights groups have raised concerns about potential misuse.
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