House Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Friday, calling for the agency to halt the procurement of electric shock gloves for immigration agents. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) published a notice of its plan to purchase the "Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter," or G.L.O.V.E., earlier this month. The letter, led by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), cited safety concerns and past incidents involving federal law enforcement's use of force.
The request follows the publication of ICE's procurement notice, which prompted a formal response from lawmakers regarding the agency's history with less-lethal weapons. Rep. Thompson noted in the letter that ICE personnel have previously used rubber bullets and chemical sprays in ways that resulted in serious injuries. The letter specifically mentioned the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during altercations with federal agents in Minnesota, as well as incidents where protesters were blinded in one eye by rubber bullets.
Manuals for the G.L.O.V.E. device, produced by Compliant Technologies, advise against its use on the elderly, pregnant individuals, or those with disabilities. The manufacturer also recommends that the device not be used by two officers on one individual simultaneously and warns against skin contact exceeding 15 seconds. A DHS spokesperson stated that the agency is assessing the equipment to ensure officers have tools to "safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens" while adhering to law enforcement standards.
For individuals in custody or those encountered during field operations, the use of these devices could lead to immediate physical changes in how arrests are conducted. While Border Czar Tom Homan suggested the gloves might be best suited for controlling fights within detention facilities, their potential use in public settings remains a point of contention. The manufacturer's own documentation states that failure to follow usage guidelines could result in injury or death, particularly for those with underlying medical conditions that may not be visible to an officer during an encounter.
A decision to proceed or halt would set a precedent for the type of "less-lethal" equipment permitted for federal immigration authorities. Currently, the implementation timeline is uncertain; Homan noted that training protocols are still being written and reviewed, and he stated it will be "a while" before the gloves are rolled out to the field. If the procurement moves forward, the primary knock-on effect would be the requirement for significant new training programs for ICE personnel to manage the specific risks and limitations outlined in the device's operating manual.
Why: Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee cite safety risks and a history of force-related injuries, while the administration describes the tool as a necessary equipment upgrade for officer safety. Who: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and Border Czar Tom Homan. What: A formal request from House Democrats to stop the purchase of electric shock gloves for ICE. When_text: August 21, 2026. Where_text: Washington, D.C.