US Department of Homeland Security is expected to buy up to $20m in gloves amid criticism of the president\u2019s immigration crackdown.<\/p>\n
Published On 12 Aug 202612 Aug 2026<\/p>\n
The administration of United States President Donald Trump is planning to spend tens of millions of dollars to equip federal immigration agents with gloves capable of delivering electric shocks.<\/p>\n
According to a notice<\/a> posted on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security has estimated it will invest between $10m and $20m in such gloves by the end of March 2027.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list<\/p>\n The devices are known as the CT-G5 G.L.O.V.E., an acronym that stands for \u201cGenerate Low Output Voltage Emitter\u201d. They are currently used by some jails and police departments.<\/p>\n Their manufacturer, Compliant Technologies, says the gloves are used to \u201cquickly distract with small uncomfortable electrical pulses\u201d when applied to a person\u2019s skin. The Department of Homeland Security indicated they would be used for \u201cdistraction and de-escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n A user manual<\/a> states the gloves can deliver a maximum of 380 volts, which \u201cinhibits\/distracts the subject from performing coordinated muscle movement\u201d.<\/p>\n The planned purchase has already sparked a backlash among rights advocates, who fear the gloves will be used to harm protesters and immigrants in the department\u2019s custody.<\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security oversees an array of agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has led Trump\u2019s campaign of mass deportation.<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s announcement specified that ICE has a requirement to make the purchase and distribute the gloves to agents within Enforcement and Removal Operations, one of its subsidiaries, and Homeland Security Investigations.<\/p>\n But ICE has faced increasing criticism for its tactics, including accusations of racial profiling and excessive force.<\/p>\n At least four people have been shot dead<\/a> during encounters with ICE agents since the start of this year. Dozens more<\/a> have died in ICE custody.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) issued a statement criticising the anticipated glove purchase, calling it a path to further violence against vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n It also noted that, in June, the Republican-led Congress passed tens of billions of dollars in ICE spending as part of the Secure America Act.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a rogue agency with an $80 billion slush fund that allows them to concoct and fund new ways to visit cruelty upon our communities,\u201d NILC President Kica Mantos said in the statement. \u201cArming poorly trained agents with electric shock gloves to inflict pain on our neighbors is disgusting and barbaric.\u201d<\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security offered no immediate response to The Associated Press news agency, one of the first news outlets to report on the story.<\/p>\n The founder and CEO of Compliant, Jeff Niklaus, told the publication in an email, \u201cUnfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject.\u201d<\/p>\n Compliant has argued in the past that its devices are \u201chumane\u201d and do not cause injury.<\/p>\n