The administration of United States President Donald Trump is initiating a substantial investment of $10 million to $20 million to equip federal immigration agents with electric-shock gloves, a move that has ignited controversy and raised concerns about potential misuse of the technology. According to a notice published on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security has estimated that the investment will span by the end of March 2027, with the devices being referred to as the CT-G5 G.L.O.V.E., an acronym signifying ‘Generate Low Output Voltage Emitter’. These gloves are currently utilized by some jails and police departments, sparking a significant backlash among civil liberties advocates.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees numerous agencies, notably Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been a focal point of Trump’s campaign to increase deportation efforts. Monday’s announcement specifies that ICE has a requirement to purchase and distribute the gloves to agents within Enforcement and Removal Operations, one of its subsidiaries and Homeland Security Investigations. However, ICE has faced increasing criticism for its tactics, particularly concerning allegations of racial profiling and excessive force in its operations.
A user manual details that the gloves can deliver a maximum of 380 volts, which ‘inhibits/distracts the subject from performing coordinated muscle movement’. This technology is being touted as a method of ‘distraction and de-escalation’ during interactions with individuals in custody. The Department of Homeland Security has indicated that the purchase is intended for ‘distraction and de-escalation’ scenarios, although the precise operational parameters remain largely unclear. At least four people have been shot dead during encounters with ICE agents since the start of this year, with dozens more dying in ICE custody. On Wednesday, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) issued a formal criticism, stating that the anticipated glove purchase constitutes a ‘path to further violence against vulnerable communities’. The NILC President Kica Mantos warned that the technology, when wielded by poorly trained agents, poses a significant risk of inflicting pain and harm on individuals.
Furthermore, on June 2023, the Republican-led Congress passed a significant $80 billion expansion of ICE spending as part of the Secure America Act. The Department of Homeland Security offered no immediate response to The Associated Press, a news organization that first reported on the story. Compliant Technologies, the manufacturer of the gloves, stated that they are unable to speak on the subject. Compliant has previously argued that its devices are ‘humane’ and do not cause injury, stating that the technology operates safely by not penetrating the subject’s body while allowing other officers to grab an individual being stimulated with no fear of feedback into their bodies.
However, Compliant’s recommendations caution against the use of the device on individuals exhibiting ‘higher risk’ characteristics, including the elderly, small children, pregnant people, and those with severe disabilities. Officers must also complete a course to use the gloves and be recertified every two years, according to the company’s website. The notice, listed as a no-bid contract, is expected to be published by Friday.
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Source: Al Jazeera
