ICE moves ahead with $10‑$20 million plan to equip agents with electric‑shock gloves
A Department of Homeland Security notice outlines a procurement of Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.) gloves for Immigration and Customs Enforcement field officers, with a budget between $10 million and $20 million. The gloves, built by Compliant Technologies of Kentucky, deliver a painful electric shock of up to 380 volts when applied to skin and are promoted as a non‑lethal device. Agents would be required to complete training and undergo biennial recertification before use.
Critics have voiced concerns that the gloves could be misused and may encourage premature use of force, especially as ICE has recorded several recent fatal shootings. Deployment of the gloves will be delayed while training protocols and policies are finalized.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 3h later
- Right-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
Why it matters
The equipment could change how ICE agents interact with detainees, affecting safety and civil‑rights considerations for people in immigration custody.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage condemns the gloves as a dangerous, oppressive tool, while right-leaning coverage downplays concerns and highlights the gloves as a non-lethal, de-escalation device, and centrist coverage sticks to factual description of the program with limited editorializing.
LEFT
ICE’s electric-shock gloves are portrayed as a frightening, punitive expansion of force that inflicts pain without accountability.
CENTER
The story is presented as a straightforward report on ICE’s plan to spend up to $20 million on a new “G.L.O.V.E.” device, noting both agency statements and some criticism.
RIGHT
The gloves are framed as a legitimate, non-lethal tool for de-escalation, with emphasis on agency needs and procedural details.
The left emphasises
- dangerous and oppressive tool
- painful electric shocks that leave no marks
- civil-rights advocates warn of misuse
The right emphasises
- non-lethal “de-escalation” device
- contract awarded without competition
- agency needs tools to protect officers
How this story developed
- Aug 11 ICE to equip agents with electric-shock gloves costing up to $20 million
- Aug 12 ICE announced that agents must undergo mandatory training and biennial recertification to use the gloves.
- Aug 13 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a review of the glove proposal and indicated possible legal action.
- Aug 13 White House border czar Tom Homan publicly defended the glove plan as a less‑lethal option.
- Aug 14 Deployment of the gloves will be delayed pending finalization of training protocols and policies.
