ICE wants to give agents electrified gloves that shock people into compliance

In a recent move, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has outlined plans to equip its officers and agents with specialized gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks. The Department of Homeland Security published a notice on Monday detailing the agency's intention to spend up to $20 million on the equipment, with an unspecified quantity set to be delivered by March 2027. The gloves in question are the CTG 5 GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), a product developed by Compliant Technologies.

According to the manufacturer, the gloves are designed to be a "CD3 (Conductive Distraction and De-escalation) device," intended to aid in de-escalation and distraction. Compliant Technologies describes the CTG 5 GLOVE as a "humane" option, suggesting that it may be seen as a less aggressive alternative to traditional methods of restraint. However, the specifics of how the gloves will be used and the intended outcome are not clear from the notice.

The plans to equip ICE officers with the electrified handwear have raised questions about the potential implications for the use of force and the treatment of individuals in custody. The full details of the contract and the intended use of the CTG 5 GLOVE remain unclear, and it is likely that further information will be released as the plans move forward.