US ICE agency to spend $16.7m on electric shock gloves

What the report says

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has agreed a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 pairs of electric-shock gloves, according to a federal procurement notice published Thursday and reported by Al Jazeera. The deal is with Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies and covers the gloves, support equipment and services over the next six months.

ICE says the devices are meant for use in “high-tension environments,” including arrests, transport of combative detainees and civil disturbances outside detention facilities. The agency described the gloves as a tool for situations involving active or passive resistance, saying they could help officers gain control quickly and reduce the need for more severe force. The notice says the equipment would be used under approved policy, training and accountability standards.

The purchase has drawn criticism from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that immigration officers already face allegations of excessive force and inadequate oversight. The American Civil Liberties Union said the technology could increase harm and reduce accountability. The article also notes that the procurement notice came just hours after senators urged ICE to cancel the plan, citing concerns about use in civil arrests and the need for clearer rules, training and independent review.

The move comes amid broader controversy over ICE’s role in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has continued to face protests and scrutiny. The Department of Homeland Security rejected the criticism, saying attempts to block safety equipment for federal officers are dangerous.