U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to acquire thousands of specialized gloves capable of delivering an electrical stimulus during close-contact encounters. The proposed purchase, valued between $10 million and $20 million, would give ICE officers another less-lethal option for dealing with individuals who physically resist, while manufacturer guidelines place specific restrictions on when the technology should be used.
The equipment is called the G.L.O.V.E., or Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, and is manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC in Lexington, Kentucky. According to reporting on Department of Homeland Security procurement documents, ICE intends to purchase thousands of the devices under a contract potentially worth as much as $20 million.
The contemplated purchase would supply personnel in ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions. The agency plans to acquire the equipment by March, according to the Associated Press. The procurement timeline does not necessarily mean every device will be deployed in the field by that date.
Unlike conducted-energy weapons designed to operate from a distance, the G.L.O.V.E. requires close physical contact. The device functions as a regular patrol glove until its electrical capability is activated, allowing an officer to deliver an electrical stimulus through contact with a person’s skin.
Compliant Technologies describes its system as Conductive Distraction and De-escalation, or CD3, technology. The device is designed to create a painful stimulus intended to distract a physically resistant person and encourage compliance rather than automatically incapacitate the individual.
Manufacturer guidance also establishes boundaries on its use. The company warns that the device should not be used as punishment or solely because someone is verbally defiant or belligerent. Officers are expected to receive training before using the equipment and undergo recertification every two years.
Safety guidance includes additional precautions involving vulnerable individuals. According to the Associated Press, manufacturer instructions warn against using the device on children, pregnant women, elderly people and people with certain disabilities. Those limitations make officer training and adherence to use-of-force policies important parts of any widespread deployment.
The planned purchase comes as the administration of President Trump continues its immigration enforcement operations. Giving ICE personnel another less-lethal option could provide officers with an alternative during physical resistance, but the effectiveness and safety of the technology will depend heavily on how officers are trained and when they are authorized to activate it.
