WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security published plans to spend up to $20 million to outfit ICE officers with electric-shock gloves by March of the following year. The agency stated that the technology is necessary for officer safety and effective law enforcement.

"ICE is constantly assessing the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country." a DHS spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that every decision is made with careful consideration and appropriately reviewed to ensure that any technology ICE utilizes is consistent with all applicable law enforcement policies and standards.

The electric-shock gloves are manufactured by Compliant Technologies, a company based in Lexington, Kentucky. The device carries the brand name G.L.O.V.E. which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. The CT-G5 model of the glove delivers a minimum voltage of 324 volts and a maximum voltage of 380 volts. The glove delivers an electric shock when the user pushes a button and touches or grips bare skin.

The glove user manual instructs wearers to avoid using the product on elderly people, small children, pregnant women, and disabled people. An estimated 50 police departments across 20 states are using the technology.

In May 2025, the Omaha police department purchased 40 pairs of gloves for just under $66,000 to be used in public schools. The Omaha police department confirmed that 29 of its 34 school resource officers have trained in the use of the gloves and work in public middle and high schools. An incident report stated that a female school resource officer used the shock glove on a male middle school student's forearm twice, causing the student to drop to the floor. Last week, Omaha police discontinued the use of the gloves in Omaha's largest public school district following a request from the school superintendent.

Joshua Elswick sued Lt Ryan Derrough alleging excessive force after Derrough used the gloves on Elswick during pre-trial detention at the Bullitt County Jail in Kentucky. The Kentucky federal court dismissed Elswick’s lawsuit in June 2025, finding that Derrough’s use of force was warranted. An appeals court upheld the dismissal of Elswick’s lawsuit in January.

A 43-year-old man died after allegedly being shocked 40 times by officers with a combination of the gloves and a Taser in a county jail in Kentucky. The widow of the man who died in Kentucky custody is suing authorities.