U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a $16.7 million no-bid contract on Thursday for 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of delivering electric shocks, according to a federal procurement notice. The G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) devices are designed to assist officers in controlling resisting detainees or protesters by providing a non-lethal use-of-force option. Each glove costs $2,495, with the six-month contract including support equipment and services from Kentucky-based manufacturer Compliant Technologies LLC.
The contract was finalized despite immediate pushback from Democratic senators, who issued a letter to ICE’s acting director the same day questioning the agency’s need for the devices. A group of 16 senators, led by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), argued in the letter that ICE’s history of force misconduct raises concerns about the safe deployment of such tools. The senators cited incidents in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, and Maine as evidence of systemic issues with oversight and accountability within the agency.
ICE defended the purchase in procurement documents, stating that the gloves would provide officers with a lower-impact alternative to physical force or firearms in encounters where detainees or protesters are actively or passively resisting. The agency noted that it currently lacks an approved empty-hand use-of-force device amid increased threats and violence against its personnel. According to ICE, the gloves would be deployed under approved policies, training requirements, and accountability standards, though the procurement notice did not detail these safeguards.
The devices function as standard patrol gloves until an officer activates an electrical mode, which must make direct contact with skin to deliver a painful shock intended to force compliance. The gloves are classified as “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” in federal records. The contract was signed on Wednesday and publicly posted on Thursday via the Federal Procurement Data System.
Opposition from civil rights advocates
Civil rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers have long criticized ICE’s use of force, citing limited oversight and accountability in enforcement actions. Advocates argue that the agency’s track record—particularly under the Trump administration’s immigration policies—demonstrates a pattern of excessive force without sufficient checks. The senators’ letter echoed these concerns, stating that the gloves could be “used to harm Americans without cause.”
The contract’s approval follows a public notice issued earlier this month outlining ICE’s intent to purchase the devices. The procurement process did not involve competitive bidding, a decision ICE did not explain in the released documents. The agency has not provided additional details on how or when the gloves will be deployed, including whether they will be restricted to specific scenarios or personnel.
Background on ICE’s use-of-force policies
ICE’s use of force has been a contentious issue, with critics pointing to incidents where detainees or bystanders were subjected to alleged excessive force during arrests or detainee transports. The agency has faced scrutiny over its lack of transparency in reporting use-of-force incidents and the outcomes of internal investigations. Proponents of the gloves argue that they could reduce reliance on more severe measures, such as firearms, in high-risk situations.
The contract’s six-month duration suggests a trial period for the devices, though ICE has not specified whether the purchase will be extended or expanded. The agency’s procurement rationale emphasizes the gloves’ potential to de-escalate tense situations before they escalate to violence, particularly in detention facilities where disturbances are common.