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US immigration officers to be equipped with gloves that deliver electric shocks
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to equip some officers with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks, under a proposed purchase worth up to $20m (£14.8m). The move is significant because it would reportedly be the largest order yet for the device and comes amid scrutiny of ICE’s use of force during immigration enforcement operations.
The gloves can deliver up to 380 volts and 30 pulses a second when activated by a button, while recording use through built-in microprocessors. They are intended for officers in Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations; the manufacturer says they do not cause injury, but its manual warns against use on vulnerable people and recommends training, recertification and another officer being present. Civil rights groups, including the ACLU, have criticised the plan, citing recent deaths during immigration enforcement activity.
In short
- ICE may spend $20m on electric-shock gloves.
- The devices can deliver up to 380 volts.
- Civil rights groups have raised concerns over force use.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue these devices offer officers a non-lethal defensive tool preferable to physical restraint or other use-of-force options that carry distinct risks. They point to manufacturers' safeguards—including training requirements and built-in recording—as evidence of responsible design, contending that with proper protocols and accountability measures, the devices provide officer protection whilst reducing escalation risks in potentially dangerous enforcement operations.
The case against
Critics contend that devices delivering 380 volts pose serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations disproportionately encountered in immigration enforcement, such as elderly and pregnant people and those with cardiac conditions. They emphasise that ICE has faced repeated accountability problems in previous use-of-force cases; without demonstrated necessity for this equipment and given the scale of procurement, they argue the devices risk becoming routine in contexts where safer alternatives remain available.
Explained simply
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is the federal agency responsible for enforcing US immigration laws. Its work includes investigating suspected immigration-related offences and detaining or removing people who do not have permission to stay in the country.
The proposed gloves are intended for two ICE divisions: Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. They deliver electric pulses when activated and record when they are used; the manufacturer advises training and cautions against using them on vulnerable people.
The proposal has drawn attention to how force is used during immigration enforcement. Supporters of the equipment may point to its intended role in officers’ work, while civil rights groups have raised concerns about safety and oversight.