Senators urge ICE to abandon electric shock glove plan
A group of Democratic senators sent a letter to ICE acting Director David Venturella, urging the agency to stop plans to purchase electric shock gloves. The senators cited concerns about excessive force and civil rights violations, and called for de-escalation tools instead. The gloves, known as G.L.O.V.E., would cost up to $20 million.
The letter, signed by 16 senators including Dick Durbin, Amy Klobuchar, and Adam Schiff, was sent Thursday to acting ICE Director David Venturella. The Department of Homeland Security published a notice earlier this month outlining plans to procure the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter devices, which would cost up to $20 million for field use during immigration operations.
The senators cited "numerous well-documented incidents of excessive force and civil rights violations" involving ICE personnel over the past year, arguing the agency lacks adequate training and accountability. A DHS spokesperson previously defended the equipment, saying ICE continually assesses officer needs for safely arresting and removing individuals. The Hill has requested comment from ICE on the matter.
This push could signal growing congressional scrutiny of ICE's enforcement tactics and equipment choices. If deployed, the shock gloves may raise concerns about how immigration officers interact with civilians during operations, potentially affecting public trust in federal agencies. The senators' call for de-escalation tools could influence future procurement decisions, though the agency's response remains unclear. Communities targeted by immigration enforcement may be most directly affected by whether such devices are ultimately adopted.