US immigration agents to get electric shock gloves by 2027 amid rights concerns

U.S. immigration enforcement agents are set to be equipped with electric shock gloves, a new device designed to subdue individuals who resist arrest.

The technology, officially known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), is slated for delivery to immigration forces by 2027. The department of Homeland Security has allocated up to $20 million for the initiative. These gloves appear ordinary until an agent activates the electrical mode, delivering an acute and immediate painful shock upon direct skin contact.

Human rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to the new equipment. They argue that the gloves could facilitate an excessive use of force by agents, potentially proving more readily deployable than tasers, which require a separate action to draw and activate. The timing of this announcement is particularly sensitive, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently under intense scrutiny.

The agency faces criticism regarding an increase in migrant deaths during police operations and within detention centers. The introduction of the G.L.O.V.E. device raises further concerns about the methods used in immigration enforcement and the potential for abuse.