ICE plans to buy electric shock gloves, raising US rights concerns

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency plans to purchase electric shock gloves for field officers, sparking concerns over human rights violations. According to a DHS statement, ICE intends to allocate up to $20 million for the CTG-5 Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, or GLOVE units. These electric shock gloves are designed to impair an individual's ability to respond, effectively functioning as a "conductive distraction and de-escalation device" to be issued to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement removal operation officers and agents.

Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that equipping immigration agents with a concealed means of inflicting severe pain raises serious human rights concerns and undermines public accountability. ICE officers undergo de-escalation training and receive regular "use of force" training, according to the DHS.

A DHS spokesperson emphasized that all decisions regarding ICE technology are made with careful consideration and undergo thorough review to ensure compliance with law enforcement policies and standards.

The call for alarm stems from fatal ICE shootings of two US citizens in Minnesota and growing concerns over conditions within ICE detention centers. Nationwide protests have erupted against ICE's tactics in response to these incidents. Since President Donald Trump assumed office last January, over 50 individuals have perished in ICE custody, as reported by the immigration agency.

Trump maintains that the crackdown aims to enhance domestic security, while rights groups contend that the administration's policies have violated free speech and due process rights, creating an unsafe environment, especially for ethnic minorities who have voiced concerns about racial profiling.