The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s plan to procure electric-shock gloves for use in operations targeting irregular migrants has drawn opposition from a group of senators.
Democratic and independent senators led by Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto criticized, in a letter to Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella, the plan to spend $10 million to $20 million on Low Output Voltage Emitter (G.L.O.V.E.) gloves. The letter called on ICE to refrain from using the gloves.
Criticism of ICE personnel
The senators argued that ICE personnel had been involved in numerous incidents over the past year involving excessive use of force and violations of civil rights.
The letter argued that these incidents showed shortcomings in the training of ICE personnel and problems with accountability.
Distribution could begin in March 2027
ICE plans to distribute the gloves to teams assigned to operations targeting irregular migrants, with distribution potentially beginning in March 2027.
Low Output Voltage Emitter gloves began being used by prison staff in the United States in situations involving heightened tensions among inmates.