Shock gloves bought by ICE cause intense pain, Army study says
Participants in a military exercise felt intense pain, stopped fighting immediately and feared additional exposures, according to an Army study.
Shock gloves touted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for use on detainees and protesters were found to cause intense pain and immediate compliance in a military exercise, according to a study obtained by watchdog group American Oversight. The shocks, which deliver electric jolts to the skin, prompted participants to stop resisting within seconds and reported feeling fatigued, sore, and apprehensive.
The gloves, which cost $2,495 per pair, were included in a $16.7 million contract signed by ICE in August 2024. Critics argue the gloves pose a risk of causing harm and raising safety concerns, as they are easy to discharge and do not leave a mark. The study found the gloves increased efficiency in forced cell extractions and transporting uncooperative inmates, but did not significantly alter the time required to control inmates during escorts.
ICE maintains the gloves are a safer alternative to other non-lethal force options and will help prevent incidents from requiring lethal force. However, some lawmakers have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the gloves' deployment and training for ICE agents.
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