US to equip ICE immigration service with electroshock gloves
The US Department of Homeland Security intends to spend up to $20 million on the procurement.
Photo: Ryan Murphy / AP
The American Immigration Control service ICE plans to equip its employees with G.L.O.V.E. electroshock gloves. The devices deliver an electric shock upon skin contact — similar to a taser. The US Department of Homeland Security intends to spend up to $20 million on the procurement, writes Bild.
The gloves will be given to employees of two ICE units, including those involved in migrant deportation operations. The manufacturer claims that the device is intended to assist during arrests by disrupting a person's motor coordination. However, it is prohibited to use it for punishment or against people who offer only verbal resistance.
Human rights activists have already criticized the initiative. The American Civil Liberties Union warned of the risk of abuse, as the shock can be applied unnoticed. The organization stated that the public has no reason to believe that ICE officers will use such devices correctly.
In recent years, ICE has regularly faced criticism over its operating methods during the Donald Trump administration. US authorities insist that officers undergo training in de-escalation and the use of force, and that the new gloves should only be used within established rules.