US to Buy Thousands of Electric Shock Gloves for ICE Agents

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has awarded a $16.7 million contract to purchase 6,000 pairs of electric shock gloves for its agents. The controversial devices, which resemble regular patrol gloves, can deliver a painful electric shock when an officer presses a button. ICE intends to use the gloves in high-tension situations, such as arrests, transporting detainees, and responding to civil disturbances outside detention facilities.

Human rights groups and Democrats have criticized the decision to use the gloves, citing concerns over potential misuse of force. A group of U.S. senators, led by Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, called for the plans to use the gloves to be abandoned, expressing skepticism about ICE's ability to deploy the new tool safely. The criticism comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding ICE's aggressive raids and tactics, which have resulted in several fatalities during encounters with immigrants and protesters.

ICE agents are already facing intense criticism for their use of force. Since President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration began, multiple people have been killed in encounters between ICE officers and immigrants or protesters. The gloves have been in use in some prisons and police departments in the United States, but their deployment by ICE has raised concerns over safety and potential harm to individuals.