WASHINGTON – US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has approved a $16.7 million contract to purchase 6,000 pairs of specialised gloves capable of delivering electric shocks for use during arrests, detainee transfers and crowd-control situations.

The federal records showed that contract No. 70CMSW26C00000012 was awarded to Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies LLC, a company that develops wearable electronic control devices for law enforcement agencies.

The contract covers not only the gloves but also related equipment, technical support and other services. The procurement is expected to be completed over approximately six months.

The gloves can be worn like conventional protective gloves but are equipped with an electrical system that can be activated by officers when necessary. Once activated, the devices can deliver a painful electric shock upon direct contact with a person’s skin.

ICE says the technology is intended for situations in which individuals refuse to comply with instructions, physically resist officers or become difficult to control.

The agency says the gloves could be used during arrests, the transfer of resistant detainees, emergencies outside detention facilities and other high-tension situations.

According to ICE, the technology is intended to provide officers with an intermediate use-of-force option that could, in some circumstances, reduce the need for more severe forms of force.

The agency says the devices may be used against individuals displaying active or passive resistance, as well as detainees who conceal their hands, behave aggressively or attempt to escape.

Sole-source contract

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning the government selected a single company without seeking traditional competitive bids from multiple suppliers.

It is a firm-fixed-price contract, under which the price for the equipment and services is established in advance.

Federal records identify Compliant Technologies LLC as the contractor and Nicholasville, Kentucky, as the place of performance.

The agreement has attracted attention not only because of its $16.7 million value but also because of the nature of the technology being procured.

Democratic senators raise concerns

Sixteen Democratic senators, led by Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, have called on ICE to review the purchase.

In a letter to the agency’s acting leadership, the senators questioned why the gloves were needed, under what circumstances they would be authorised, what medical risks they could pose, what training officers would receive and what accountability measures would apply in cases of misuse.

Citing recent controversies surrounding immigration enforcement operations in several US cities, the senators argued that effective oversight and safeguards should be established before introducing a new device designed to inflict an electric shock.

They also questioned whether the devices could be used against people who pose no immediate physical threat, how each use would be documented and whether every incident would be reviewed by a supervising officer.

Civil rights groups express concern

Civil rights advocates have also raised concerns about the potential misuse of close-range devices capable of causing pain.

They argue that the use of force during immigration arrests and protests has already attracted scrutiny, making additional oversight necessary with the introduction of an electric control device.

Critics are also seeking clarification on whether people subjected to an electric shock would be required to undergo a medical examination and whether ICE would maintain a centralised record of every use.

ICE defends the technology

ICE says the gloves will not be used outside established policies, training requirements and accountability procedures.

The agency says officers will have to complete approved training and familiarise themselves with operational guidelines before using the devices.

However, the details about when the electrical system may be activated, how long a shock can be administered, what medical precautions will be required and what level of supervisory review will follow each use have not been fully made public.

ICE describes the technology as an additional option that could, in certain circumstances, be used before resorting to firearms or more severe forms of force.

The contract comes as the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies have placed ICE operations at the centre of intense political and legal debate. The supporters view the gloves as an additional control tool between verbal commands and more serious uses of force while critics are questioning the need, proportionality, training and accountability surrounding the $16.7 million sole-source purchase.