An internal U.S. Army study, disclosed by the watchdog group American Oversight, has found that electric shock gloves purchased by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in August cause significant pain, fatigue, and a lingering fear of further shocks. This revelation was reported by the Associated Press (AP), which acquired documents through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.
The research took place in October 2024 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where Army personnel acted as combative detainees. Participants, many of whom were large men, ceased resisting shortly after being shocked, experiencing "fatigue, pain, and a heightened apprehension of another shock," according to the report. The most striking conclusion: "just the sight of the glove was enough to compel compliance."
Controversy Over ICE's Awareness and Purchase
What exacerbates the issue is that ICE was aware of these findings before signing the contract. In August, the agency agreed to a $16.7 million deal with Compliant Technologies LLC for 6,000 pairs of these devices, known as G.L.O.V.E., priced at $2,495 each, with delivery expected within six months.
The G.L.O.V.E. is designed as a standard patrol glove that, with the push of a button, emits up to 380 volts directly onto the skin. Unlike a taser—which causes muscular incapacitation—this device "overloads peripheral nerve endings" to induce pain. The study also noted that wet or oily skin intensifies the effect, with one participant experiencing discomfort for thirty minutes.
Debate on Safety and Efficacy
ICE has described the gloves as "distraction and de-escalation devices" that are safer than other non-lethal options. However, Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, strongly disagreed: "The military assessment in ICE's own files shows these gloves can cause severe pain and force compliance. It does not establish them as safe. Everyone should be alarmed that ICE is preparing to deploy a tool designed to inflict, at best, severe pain without proving its safety."
Political and Legal Ramifications
This issue gains significance against the backdrop of Donald Trump's immigration policies. For instance, in Florida, detentions of Cubans by ICE surged 463% between October 2025 and April 2026, with the Miramar office accounting for over 41,000 arrests since January 2025, the highest in the nation.
Approximately 400,000 Cubans are estimated to be in the U.S. under the I-220A form, without guaranteed immigration status, many attending regular ICE appointments or being detained in facilities such as Krome or the "Deportation Depot" in Baker, Florida.
The fiscal year 2026 ended as the deadliest in ICE history, with 37 in-custody deaths compared to 23 in 2025 and 12 in 2024. Incidents involving the use of force in detention centers also rose by 37% in 2025, affecting over 1,300 individuals in at least 780 cases, as reported by the Washington Post.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan acknowledged that deployment "will take some time" as ICE continues to work on training protocols and regulations. The Department of Homeland Security defends the purchase but has not responded to AP's inquiries about the study.
Meanwhile, 16 Democratic senators, led by Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, sent a letter on August 27 demanding the acquisition be canceled or an explanation on how abuses would be prevented. ICE has yet to respond to this request.
"Without ICE answering legitimate questions from 16 senators, the American public is left in the dark about how these electric gloves are being deployed and what training, if any, the agents using them have received," stated Cortez Masto.
California was the first state to act: Governor Gavin Newsom signed the AB 2760 bill in late September, banning the use of the gloves by local, state, and federal agents in the state until 2030, though legal experts warn that courts might overturn the restriction on federal agents due to the constitutional supremacy clause.
Frequently Asked Questions about ICE's Electric Gloves
What are the effects of the electric gloves purchased by ICE?
The electric gloves cause intense pain, fatigue, and a persistent fear of further shocks. The sight of the glove alone can compel compliance, according to a U.S. Army study.
How does the G.L.O.V.E. device differ from a taser?
Unlike a taser, which causes muscular incapacitation, the G.L.O.V.E. device overloads peripheral nerve endings to induce pain rather than muscle paralysis.
What was ICE's response to the study's findings?
ICE has not publicly responded to the study's findings, nor to the demands from 16 Democratic senators requesting either a cancellation of the purchase or an explanation on preventing abuses.
What is the current legal status of the electric gloves in California?
California has banned the use of these gloves by local, state, and federal agents until 2030, though legal experts warn the restriction might be overturned for federal agents due to the constitutional supremacy clause.