Date: October 7, 2026
Source: CNN
Topic: Immigration, ICE, Shock Gloves, U.S. Government
A previously unreleased U.S. Army study is raising new concerns about electric-shock gloves that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to use to control detainees and protesters.
The study found that participants subjected to the gloves during a 2024 military exercise experienced intense pain, quickly stopped resisting and became fearful of being shocked again. CNN reported the findings as part of new scrutiny surrounding ICE’s planned purchase of the devices.
ICE signed a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 pairs of the gloves in August 2026. According to records obtained by watchdog group American Oversight and shared with The Associated Press, ICE officials were aware of the Army study before approving the purchase.
How the Gloves Work
The devices are known as the CTG-5 GLOVE, short for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, and are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC.
CNN reported that the gloves can deliver up to about 380 volts and must make direct contact with a person’s skin. Unlike a Taser, the device is designed primarily to cause pain rather than completely immobilize the person.
During the Army exercise at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, soldiers and other participants played the roles of combative prisoners. The study found that the gloves could reduce the amount of physical struggle required by officers and produce immediate compliance.
Critics Raise Safety Concerns
The findings have intensified criticism from civil-rights advocates and lawmakers who question whether the gloves have been adequately tested for use in civilian immigration enforcement.
American Oversight said the Army assessment demonstrates that the devices can cause intense pain and induce compliance, but does not establish that they are safe for people who may be subjected to them.
The manufacturer also warns against using the gloves on certain high-risk groups, including children, pregnant women and people with disabilities. Critics say identifying those conditions during fast-moving enforcement encounters could create additional risks.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and 15 other Democratic senators previously asked ICE to explain how the devices would be used and what safeguards and training would be required. Cortez Masto said ICE had not responded to their request.
ICE Defends the Purchase
ICE has described the gloves as “distraction and de-escalation devices” and argues that they could provide agents with another option for controlling dangerous encounters without resorting to potentially more dangerous forms of force.
The Department of Homeland Security has also defended the purchase, saying federal officers need appropriate equipment to safely conduct arrests and enforcement operations.
However, ICE has not yet established a final timeline for deploying the gloves in the field. White House border czar Tom Homan has said implementation could take time while the agency works through training and policy issues. The contract calls for delivery within six months.
The debate over the gloves comes as ICE faces increasing scrutiny over its enforcement tactics, use-of-force policies and treatment of people during immigration operations.
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Original CNN Article: October 7, 2026
Date: October 7, 2026
Source: CNN
Topic: Immigration, ICE, Shock Gloves, U.S. Government
