WASHINGTON—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is
considering investing up to $20 million to acquire specialized gloves capable
of delivering electric shocks as a control tool during interventions with
individuals deemed aggressive.
The device, called G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage
Emitter), is manufactured by the U.S. company Compliant Technologies LLC and is
designed for use as a compliance and physical control tool.
According to available information about the equipment, the
gloves can generate shocks of up to 380 volts. The proposed acquisition would
equip ICE agents and officers with these devices, a measure that has garnered
attention due to the use of electricity as a mechanism to subdue individuals
during security operations.
This proposal is part of the agency's efforts to expand the
equipment available to its agents in situations considered high-risk or in
which an individual essentially resists intervention. The acquisition, however,
does not necessarily mean that the gloves will be used widely. Their eventual
implementation will depend on the conditions established by ICE, the operating
procedures, and the rules governing the use of control devices.