U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is planning to equip its officers with electric shock gloves, wearable devices that can deliver electric jolts during arrests and detainee operations, according to reporting from multiple news organizations. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has been evaluating the technology as a less-lethal tool for officers who conduct enforcement actions, including deportation operations.

The gloves function as a close-range compliance tool, intended to give officers an additional option when physical confrontations arise during arrests or detentions. The specific model under consideration and the protocols governing its use have not been fully disclosed publicly by DHS. Reports indicate the agency is in the procurement or planning phase rather than active deployment.

The announcement has prompted immediate debate over the appropriateness of the technology in immigration enforcement contexts. Critics have raised concerns about potential for misuse, the vulnerability of detainees including those who may have medical conditions, and whether adequate oversight frameworks exist before the devices are issued to officers in the field.

Supporters of the plan argue that officers conducting enforcement operations — which can involve individuals who resist arrest — need effective, non-lethal options to protect themselves and reduce the risk of more serious injury to both officers and those being detained. Proponents frame the gloves as consistent with the broader adoption of less-lethal technologies by law enforcement agencies.

DHS has not publicly outlined the training requirements, use-of-force thresholds, or accountability measures that would accompany the rollout of the devices. Civil liberties organizations are expected to scrutinize any deployment, particularly given ongoing legal and political disputes over conditions in immigration detention facilities.