Lawmakers Push DHS to Cancel Its Shock Gloves Contract

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized a $16.7 million contract to purchase 6,650 pairs of electric shock gloves from Kentucky-based company Compliant Technologies. Each pair costs approximately $2,400, plus additional accessories. The news was met with swift opposition in the legislative branch, as multiple letters were sent to key officials expressing concerns about the use and regulation of these devices.

Senators, members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and a group of 49 Democratic Congress members signed letters to interim ICE director David Venturella, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and other officials. They urged the cancellation of the shock gloves contract, citing the militarization of the DHS and human rights violations associated with their use.

Similar to police departments, ICE agents have been reported to use the gloves to inflict pain while evading legal liability, as highlighted by Mother Jones and Amnesty International.

Human rights organizations argue that the gloves are not "humane" and are unregulated, despite potential risks of torture. State and local police departments are also facing backlash over their contracts with Compliant Technologies. Nebraska's largest school district has stopped using shock gloves on students after reporting revealed their misuse. California lawmakers have even passed a ban on law enforcement using wearable electroshock devices for the next decade, requiring a safety study.

Despite opposition, the California State Sheriffs' Association and DHS maintain their stance, claiming the ban is unconstitutional and a deliberate attempt to undermine federal law enforcement safety.