US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to purchase special gloves that produce electric shock for its employees. It is assumed that they will be used against people who offer resistance: the electrical impulse of the device allows them to achieve submission in a few seconds, reports CBS News.
We are talking about the CTG-5 GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) device. Manufacturer Compliant Technologies LLC explains that when inactive, GLOVEs look like a regular pair of gloves. To apply an electric shock, the employee must press a special panel – for pain to occur, the glove must be in direct contact with the person’s skin.
According to a procurement notice released by ICE, the agency will spend between $10 million and $20 million to acquire the devices. The contract is expected to be concluded before the end of this year, and deliveries should be completed by March 2027. These gloves will be worn by employees of two ICE divisions – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Office of Removal Operations (ERO).
John Peters, president of the Institute to Prevent Deaths in Custody, suggested in an interview with The Associated Press that ICE officers could use such devices, particularly when removing resisting detainees from cars or homes, as well as when moving them into holding centers.
In recent years, these gloves have already been used in some prisons and police departments, notes CBS News. In particular, they were used against “violent suspects” when they refused to enter police vehicles, and against prisoners who harmed themselves or threatened security officers.
Peters acknowledged the potential for such devices to be abused, but said the likelihood of serious injury from their use is low. He called the sensation of the electrical discharge “instantaneous and sharp,” comparing it to a bee sting. At the same time, the expert emphasized that ICE needs to develop clear rules for the use of gloves and ensure that employees are properly trained.
“Each decision is made after careful consideration and is subject to appropriate review to ensure that any technology used by ICE complies with all applicable law enforcement regulations and standards,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBS News.
The manufacturer warns that GLOVE should not be used on people who exhibit “verbal disobedience or aggressive behavior,” or on high-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, or people with disabilities.
Before using GLOVE, employees must complete a special training course and then recertify every two years.
