Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may soon be equipped with gloves that deliver electrical shocks, which the manufacturer claims are intended to de-escalate encounters with individuals. The gloves, known as CTG 5 G.L.O.V.E, are set to be purchased by ICE for an estimated $10 to $20 million. I mean, who wouldn’t want to give their officers a fancy new gadget that can shock people? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to purchase these gloves, which are designed to be a “Conductive Distraction and De-escalation Device.” The manufacturer, Compliant Technologies LLC, claims that the gloves can deliver a maximum voltage of up to 380V, which can “inhibit/distract the subject from performing coordinated muscle movement.” I’m no expert, but that sounds like a pretty fancy way of saying it’s going to hurt.
The gloves are set to be delivered by March 31, 2027, and it’s unclear how many DHS intends to purchase or when officers would begin using them. The notice comes as agencies enforcing immigration arrests face scrutiny over what critics call aggressive and dangerous tactics. I guess the idea is that these gloves will help de-escalate situations, but I’m not sure I buy it.
The user manual for the gloves states that they should not be used as a “punishment” or on high-risk individuals, including those who are pregnant, elderly, or severely disabled. It also warns against deploying the gloves for “verbal defiance or belligerence.” I’m not sure what kind of situations ICE agents typically find themselves in, but I hope they’re not planning on using these gloves to subdue grandma or anything.
Compliant Technologies markets the G.L.O.V.E as a “wearable de-escalation device” that can be shifted into electrical mode. The company claims that the gloves are intended to “supplement existing tools for law enforcement, corrections, security, EMS, and the military.” I’m not sure what kind of “existing tools” they’re talking about, but I hope it’s not just a fancy new way of saying “batons and pepper spray.”
The Oklahoma County Jail has already used similar devices, which can zap inmates at a rate of at least 210 volts. The devices have been used in prior incidents resulting in criminal charges, according to South Carolina’s The State newspaper. I guess that’s not exactly the kind of track record you’d want for a new gadget like this.
Civil rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have expressed alarm at the plan to equip ICE agents with the gloves. They claim that the devices could be used to deliver “terrible pain” in encounters and that the public should have no confidence that ICE officers will use them appropriately. I’m inclined to agree with them – I mean, do we really want to give ICE agents a new way to shock people?
The ACLU’s deputy project director on policing, Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, told the Associated Press that introducing gloves that can deliver electric shocks is a “recipe for harm to the public.” I think that’s a pretty fair assessment, considering the potential for abuse and the fact that ICE agents don’t exactly have a spotless track record when it comes to using force.
In conclusion, the idea of ICE agents using electrical shock gloves to de-escalate encounters seems like a recipe for disaster. I’m not sure what kind of genius came up with this idea, but I think they might need to go back to the drawing board. As I always say, you can’t make this stuff up – and I’m not sure I want to live in a world where our immigration agents are running around with gadgets that can shock people. Sounds like a real shock-ing idea (sorry, had to!).
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
