US immigration agency plans to use electric shock gloves

U.S. immigration authorities are planning to equip agents with gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks, a move that has raised alarms among civil rights advocates. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency intends to spend up to $20 million to acquire thousands of "conductive energy devices," according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. The procurement is expected to be completed by March.

These devices, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured in Kentucky. They function as ordinary gloves until an agent activates a switch, at which point they emit an electric shock. The manufacturer claims the pain stimulus can help "break resistance" within seconds. Agents would need to complete a course and recertify every two years to use the gloves. The manufacturer also warns against using them as punishment or against individuals offering only verbal resistance, and advises against their use on children, pregnant women, or the elderly.

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ICE has shown in the past year that the agency is too quick to use force. Now, it can deliver electric shocks at the push of a button, without others possibly noticing the use.

However, civil rights attorney Jenn Rolnick Borchetta of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) voiced significant doubts about ICE's ability to use these devices appropriately. She warned that individuals could receive electric shocks without warning. "ICE has shown in the past year that the agency is too quick to use force. Now, it can deliver electric shocks at the push of a button, possibly without others noticing the use," she stated, expressing concern that the gloves could easily lead to severe pain during such encounters.

ICE is already under scrutiny for its use of force in enforcing the immigration policies of the Trump administration. This plan to introduce electric shock gloves adds another layer of concern for critics who fear it could lead to further instances of excessive force and potential harm to individuals in immigration custody.

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The pain stimulus should help to 'break resistance' within seconds.