US immigration officers to be equipped with gloves that deliver electric shocks

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is considering outfitting its officers with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks as part of their law enforcement duties. The cost of these gloves, known as Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (GLOVE), is estimated to reach $20 million (£14.8 million). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to purchase these gloves, despite concerns raised by civil rights groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The GLOVE gloves can deliver up to 380 volts of electricity, which is significantly higher than a standard US power outlet's 120 volts. Civil liberties advocates have expressed alarm over the potential use of this technology, citing its lethal consequences. ICE is under scrutiny for its enforcement tactics, which have resulted in several fatal shootings.

The DHS stated that the agency is constantly evaluating the needs of its officers to ensure they have the necessary tools and equipment for safe arrests and deportations. Compliant Technologies LLC, the manufacturer of the GLOVE gloves, declined to comment on the sale. The gloves are activated by a button and can deliver up to 30 pulses per second, with built-in microprocessors tracking their activation.

While the GLOVE gloves are designed not to cause injury, the user manual advises against their use on vulnerable populations, including the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and the severely handicapped. However, an additional officer is recommended to restrain the subject when using the gloves. Unlike tasers, which cause widespread pain through skin penetration, the GLOVE gloves deliver localized shocks to deter resistance.

Lt Butch Gallion, an administrator at Hawkins County jail in Tennessee, noted that the gloves could potentially be used by ICE officers and agents in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). When pushed, the button lights up, indicating the shock is ready to be administered, typically to exposed areas like wrists or elbows. Gallion explained that the shocks can only be delivered upon skin contact, allowing officers to touch a subject's clothing before applying the shock.

According to the DHS note, the GLOVE gloves would be utilized by ICE officers and agents in HSI and ERO, which target transnational criminal organizations and enforce immigration laws in the US. Some law enforcement agencies already employ the gloves, but the planned ICE purchase would be the largest acquisition from Compliant Technologies. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, have expressed alarm over the use of such devices by law enforcement, citing the potential for increased harm and a lack of accountability.