‘Could result in injury or death’: Thanedar urges halting ICE’s electric shock glove plan
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar and colleagues oppose ICE's electric shock glove plan. They warn of potential misuse and severe injury or death from these devices. Lawmakers cite ICE's past record and insufficient training for officers. The proposed procurement involves millions of dollars for thousands of gloves. They implore the Homeland Security Secretary to immediately stop this…
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar and fellow Democratic lawmakers Bennie G Thompson and Lou Correa have written to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, urging an immediate halt to the US government’s procurement of electric shock gloves for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The lawmakers warn that these “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” could be misused by ICE personnel, potentially leading to injury or death.
The devices, set to cost up to $20 million, are marketed as non-lethal and safe for the heart. However, the manufacturers cautions that they “may result in injury or death” and advise against using the gloves on certain groups, including the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and the severely handicapped.
Thanedar, Thompson, and Correa stress the need for significant training and restraint by officers using these devices, citing ICE’s history of violence against the public. They particularly criticize the rushed training programs under former President Donald Trump, which they claim inadequately prepared officers for the use of force.
The lawmakers also highlight concerns over ICE’s use of force during the Trump administration, citing incidents where ICE officers have used excessive force against individuals. Former ICE Acting Director John Sandweg and law professor Michael Mannheimer have joined the critics, warning that the gloves could be misused and that officers should exhaust less forceful options before resorting to these devices.
This push comes amid a pending lawsuit alleging a man’s death after being shocked 27 times with the gloves and 13 times with a Taser at a jail in Richmond, Kentucky. Internal investigations found that some glove shocks lasted longer than the recommended 15 seconds. Despite these concerns, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that the procurement process assesses the needs of officers in the field and reviews technology to ensure compliance with law enforcement policies and standards.
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