Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to purchase gloves designed to deliver painful electric shocks to help gain compliance from combative individuals, according to a notice published by the Department of Homeland Security reported by multiple outlets. The gloves are referred to as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” and are known by the acronym G.L.O.V.E., meaning “Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter.”
The DHS notice indicates the agency plans to spend up to $20 million to buy thousands of the devices by March, and outlines a procurement timeline that could include a no-bid contract solicitation as soon as Friday. The devices are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky, and have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments.
Outlets also report that DHS provides limited information while it prepares a response to an Associated Press inquiry and offered no immediate comment. The company’s founder and CEO said he could not comment on the subject. Civil rights advocates express concern, arguing that ICE officers already face scrutiny and that adding shock-capable equipment could increase alarms about use of force.
