U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved a $16.7 million contract to procure 6,000 pairs of gloves capable of delivering electric shocks to control detainees and protesters who resist, as stated by ICE officials. Despite objections from civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, ICE proceeded with the purchase, citing the necessity for “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for its officers and investigators.
A notice posted in a federal database recently disclosed that ICE secured a no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies LLC, a Kentucky-based company that manufactures these gloves. The agreement encompasses the acquisition of 6,000 devices along with related equipment and services within the next six months.
Critics argue that ICE officers lack proper oversight and accountability in their use of force, particularly amidst the aggressive enforcement of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Recent incidents involving ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have resulted in fatalities, raising concerns about the agencies’ tactics.
Following a letter from Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and other Democratic senators urging ICE to reconsider the purchase, ICE defended its decision, emphasizing the need for these gloves in managing high-tension situations such as arrests, detainee transport, and civil disturbances.
The gloves, which appear as regular patrol gloves until activated to deliver a shock upon contact with the skin, are intended to subdue individuals who resist. ICE stated that the shocks are meant to prevent the use of more severe force, like firearms, and to enhance control over detainees and maintain order.
Despite criticism and calls for reform, ICE’s parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, stood by the purchase, denouncing opposition as an attack on officer safety. This procurement marks the latest in a series of no-bid contracts issued by the Trump administration, drawing scrutiny from Democrats over the lack of competitive bidding processes.
