ICE May Use Gloves Capable of Delivering Electric Shocks, According to DHS Notice
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may soon be equipped with gloves capable of delivering painful electric shocks to control combative individuals. The agency plans to invest up to $20 million to acquire thousands of 'conductive distraction and de-escalation devices' to equip its agents by March, according to a notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released on Monday. The devices, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC, a company based in Lexington, Kentucky. These devices have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments. In a statement to The Associated Press, the DHS indicated it was working on a response and did not offer further comments. Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, stated in an email, 'Unfortunately, we cannot speak on this matter.' The notice mentions that a solicitation for a no-bid contract could be published as early as Friday. Civil rights advocates expressed alarm over the plan, highlighting that ICE agents are already criticized for their use of force and accountability during President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement. Compliant Technologies claims the gloves function like a normal pair of patrol gloves until agents press a switch to activate their electric mode. According to the company, the gloves must be applied directly to a person's skin to cause a pain stimulus that generally helps an agent control a suspect within seconds. 'It's immediate and sharp, and it's going to distract you. I compare it to a bee sting,' said John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of Deaths in Custody, who studies the device's use. 'If the agent encounters any resistance, it is undoubtedly an effective tool.' Peters believes the planned purchase by ICE would be the largest in the company's history. He added that he could foresee ICE agents using these devices to help remove individuals from cars and homes, as well as for their transport to and from detention centers. 'I think it's a great advantage for shorter or weaker or older agents,' as it can more quickly take down a person and reduce the duration of a confrontation, he explained. The manufacturer warns that the device should not be used as punishment, against individuals who are merely 'belligerent,' nor in high-risk populations such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, or those with disabilities. Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director for policing at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), stated that the public should not trust that ICE agents will use the devices appropriately. She questioned their necessity for civil enforcement of immigration laws and noted that those receiving a shock might not receive any prior warning. 'ICE has spent the last year showing this country that it resorts to force too quickly. Now they will be able to deliver electric shocks with just the push of a button that perhaps no one else can see them activate,' Rolnick Borchetta commented. 'Having gloves that can be so easily used to inflict terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harming the public.' Proponents of their use argue that the devices are generally used in specific situations within prisons and transports, and not more broadly while patrolling the streets. According to Compliant Technologies, they have been used to subdue violent suspects who refuse to enter patrol cars and inmates who harm themselves and threaten officers. Peters said he anticipates a small number of employees may misuse the devices, as is the case with other police technologies, but he asserted that it is unlikely to cause injuries. He noted that it would be important for ICE to have solid policies and proper training. To use the device, agents must complete a course and recertify every two years, according to the manufacturer. This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An editor from Telemundo Digital reviewed the translation.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
