Instant electric shock: The new glove of the U.S. immigration service
A new and controversial measure planned to be put into use next year is causing a stir in the U.S.
The U.S. immigration agency plans to purchase new electric gloves for its agents. The move is sparking sharp criticism and fears regarding the potential misuse of the new device.
According to an official announcement from the Department of Homeland Security, agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are expected to soon be equipped with gloves capable of shocking suspects. The gloves are designed to ensure a suspect's cooperation within seconds. Their potential use is sparking criticism in the U.S. against the backdrop of aggressive enforcement actions by immigration authorities in recent months.
The agency plans to spend between $10 million and $20 million on the purchase of the gloves, which are scheduled to be delivered by March 2027. The gloves can deliver up to 380 volts of electricity and are activated by the press of a button upon contact with a suspect, intended to neutralize them and force cooperation.
The glove, called G.L.O.V.E., is produced by the Kentucky-based company Compliant Technologies. The manufacturer claims on its website that the devices do not cause injury and work only upon direct exposure to skin, presenting them as a tool to help reduce confrontation.
The move is aimed at de-escalating confrontations.
Human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have expressed concern about the use of these devices. The announcement comes at a time when immigration enforcement agencies are under increasing scrutiny for what critics call aggressive and dangerous tactics, as well as pressure from the Donald Trump administration to carry out approximately 2,000 arrests per day. The immigration authority itself is under criticism for the manner in which it conducts operations, during which several fatal shooting incidents by officers and agents have been recorded.
