An unreleased Army study reveals that electric shock gloves considered by immigration officials cause intense pain and force immediate compliance. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leaders knew about these findings prior to finalizing a $16.7 million contract in August to acquire 6,000 pairs of the devices. The records were secured by the watchdog group American Oversight through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit and shared with The Associated Press. Evaluated during an October 2024 military exercise at the Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas, the gloves were tested on Army personnel acting as combative prisoners. Several large participants stopped resisting within seconds of contact and experienced fatigue, soreness, and a lasting fear of further shocks. Authors of the study noted that merely seeing the gloves was enough to inspire compliance. ICE has defended the purchase, categorizing the equipment as distraction and de-escalation tools that offer a safer non-lethal alternative to protect officers and curb civil disturbances. Critics, however, argue that the gear provides another method for intimidation and excessive force, noting that the manufacturer advises against using them on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, and disabled individuals. Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, emphasized that the assessment demonstrates the gloves inflict severe pain without proving safety. The testing also showed that the gloves increased operational efficiency during cell extractions by shortening physical struggles and preventing guard fatigue. Unlike Tasers, the electric current overloads peripheral nerve endings on the skin rather than freezing the body. The six-month contract with manufacturer Compliant Technologies LLC includes support services, with each pair of gloves priced at $2,495. While White House border czar Tom Homan indicated deployment could take time due to ongoing training and policy reviews, lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto have criticized ICE for failing to address congressional inquiries regarding safety protocols and potential abuse. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has maintained that critics are attempting to obstruct essential law enforcement safety equipment.
Source: cbsnews.com
