A previously unreleased U.S. Army study found that electric shock gloves caused intense pain and immediate compliance during a military prison exercise at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Leaders at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were aware of these findings before signing a $16.7 million contract in August to purchase 6,000 pairs of the devices. The study and related records were obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and shared with news outlets on October 6, 2026.
The military exercise, conducted in October 2024, tested the devices on employees role-playing as combative prisoners. According to the study, participants stopped resisting within seconds of contact but were left with soreness, fatigue, and "excessive apprehensiveness to being shocked again." The report noted that the electric jolt works by overloading peripheral nerve endings rather than causing the full-body immobilization associated with a Taser. One participant who had wet or oily skin reported feeling discomfort for 30 minutes following the shock.
ICE has defended the procurement, describing the gloves in federal records as "distraction and de-escalation devices" intended to protect officers during arrests, deportations, and civil disturbances. The agency stated that it currently lacks an "empty hand use of force device" to manage threats. However, 16 Democratic senators led by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) have called for the agency to abandon the plan, citing concerns over potential abuse and the fact that the gloves leave no physical marks. The manufacturer, Compliant Technologies LLC, warns that the gloves should not be used on children, pregnant women, or disabled individuals.
The use of these devices may also influence standards for federal law enforcement tactics and the equipment used in detention settings nationwide. While ICE argues the gloves provide a safer alternative to lethal force and increase the confidence of smaller or less-trained officers, critics and lawmakers argue the agency has not provided sufficient evidence of their safety. The Department of Homeland Security has characterized the pushback as a deliberate attempt to "undermine and endanger" federal officers.
A specific timeline for when the gloves will appear in the field remains uncertain. White House border czar Tom Homan stated it could "be awhile" as the agency finalizes training protocols and policies. The contract requires Compliant Technologies to deliver the equipment within six months of the August signing. Meanwhile, Sen. Cortez Masto stated that the agency has not yet responded to an August 27 letter requesting details on how the gloves will be managed to prevent misuse. As of October 6, 2026, ICE indicated that while officers are trained in de-escalation, specific details regarding the status of the rollout have not been released.