Army Study Finds Shock Gloves Cause Intense Pain, Yet ICE Proceeds With $16.7 Million Purchase

A previously undisclosed Army study indicates that electric shock gloves purchased by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) generated intense pain and forced immediate compliance during military exercises, yet the agency proceeded with a significant procurement deal despite the findings. According to records obtained by the watchdog group American Oversight and reviewed by The Associated Press, ICE leadership was aware of the study’s results before finalizing a $16.7 million contract in August to acquire 6,000 pairs of the devices.

The evaluation took place in October 2024 at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. Army employees role-playing as combative prisoners reported stopping their resistance within seconds of being touched by the gloves. Participants, including several large-statured men, described experiencing “fatigue, soreness and excessive apprehensiveness to being shocked again.” The study noted that merely seeing the device was sufficient to compel compliance.

ICE has characterized the gloves as “distraction and de-escalation devices,” arguing in procurement documents that they offer a safer alternative to other non-lethal options for subduing detainees and protesters. The agency emphasized that officers currently lack an empty-hand use-of-force tool capable of managing the “unprecedented levels of threats and violence” faced by agents, which could help prevent situations from escalating to potentially lethal force.

Critics, however, have raised alarms regarding the safety and ethical implications of the equipment. They note that the gloves are easy to discharge, do not leave visible marks, and have not been extensively tested outside of jail environments. Additionally, the manufacturer, Compliant Technologies LLC, warns against use on high-risk populations, including children, pregnant women, and disabled individuals.

“The military assessment in ICE’s own files shows that these gloves can cause ‘intense pain’ and force compliance. It does not establish that they are safe,” said Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight. She added that deploying a tool designed to inflict pain without proven safety data for the populations subjected to it is a cause for public concern.

The Army study assessed the gloves’ effectiveness in forcibly removing combative prisoners, responding to disturbances, and transporting uncooperative inmates. Researchers found that the devices increased operational efficiency by reducing the duration of physical encounters, conserving guard energy, and preventing injuries. The electric jolt functions by overloading peripheral nerve endings rather than causing muscular freezing like a Taser. Participants with wet or oily skin reported even more severe shocks, with one individual experiencing discomfort for 30 minutes after exposure.

Despite the findings, the contract with Compliant Technologies requires delivery within six months, with each pair costing $2,495. The manufacturer’s instruction manual advises giving subjects a reasonable opportunity to comply before force is applied and suggests limitting shock duration to 15 seconds unless the subject becomes more violent.

Political scrutiny has intensified around the deployment. U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada stated that ICE has not responded to a letter sent on August 27, in which she and 15 Democratic colleagues requested details on how the gloves would be used and managed to prevent abuse. Meanwhile, the White House border czar, Tom Homan, indicated that rollout may be delayed as ICE finalizes training and policy protocols.

The Department of Homeland Security has defended the purchase, with a spokesperson telling CBS News that critics were attempting to deny federal law enforcement officers necessary safety equipment. DHS reiterated that ICE personnel are highly trained in de-escalation tactics and that all technology acquisitions are carefully reviewed for compliance with law enforcement policies.