ICE Awards $16.7 Million No-Bid Contract For 6,000 Shock Gloves
Immigration and Customs Enforcement signed a $16.7 million no-bid contract on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with Compliant Technologies LLC to buy 6,000 electroshock gloves.[1]
The gloves, marketed as G.L.O.V.E. devices, cost $2,495 apiece and can deliver an electric shock when switched to electrical mode and applied to a subject's bare skin.[1] ICE procurement documents say the gloves may be used on people who are "actively or passively resisting" as a lower-impact use-of-force option.[1] An instruction manual urges officers to give subjects a chance to comply, limit shocks to about 15 seconds, and avoid use on vulnerable people including the elderly and pregnant women.[1]
On Thursday, 16 Democratic senators led by Catherine Cortez Masto sent ICE a letter urging the agency to abandon the purchase and demanding disclosure of use-of-force rules and safeguards.[1] A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson defended the procurement, calling the Democratic criticism "despicable and a deliberate attempt to undermine and endanger our officers." CBS News
In 2025, Congress approved large appropriations that included the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated roughly $75 billion to ICE for enforcement operations through 2029. That funding preceded a wave of sole-source ICE purchases, including a September 2025 contract for spyware and a February 2026 surge in weapons spending. DHS posted an acquisition notice on August 10 announcing plans for a no-bid contract of up to $20 million for G.L.O.V.E. devices from Compliant Technologies, the sole manufacturer. The notice said the devices were intended for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) personnel.
The mainstream summary does not mention the significant increase in ICE's enforcement workforce, which grew from approximately 10,000 to over 22,000 officers and agents in 2025. This dramatic expansion, a 120% increase, is crucial context for understanding the agency's escalating procurement activities, including the controversial no-bid contract for electroshock gloves. The summary also overlooks the alarming rise in ICE book-ins to detention, which surged by 29.7% in 2025, reflecting a broader trend in immigration enforcement that may necessitate such tools. These statistics suggest a more aggressive operational posture by ICE that is not fully captured in the mainstream account.[2][3]
Additionally, while the mainstream summary highlights the Democratic senators' letter urging ICE to abandon the purchase, it does not address the broader context of partisan polarization surrounding immigration enforcement. Pew Research Center surveys indicate stark divides in public opinion, with a majority of Republicans favoring aggressive enforcement tactics, contrasting sharply with Democratic views. This polarization may influence how such contracts are perceived and justified politically, a nuance absent from the mainstream narrative.[4][5]
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📊 Relevant Data
ICE's enforcement workforce grew from approximately 10,000 to more than 22,000 officers and agents during 2025.
ICE recorded 365,500 book-ins to detention in 2025, a 29.7% increase from 2024.
Immigration enforcement — USAFacts
📌 Key Facts
- ICE signed a $16.7 million no-bid contract on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 with Compliant Technologies LLC to buy 6,000 electroshock gloves.
- Each G.L.O.V.E. device costs $2,495 and can deliver an electric shock when switched to “electrical mode” and applied to a subject’s bare skin.
- ICE procurement documents say the gloves may be used on people who are “actively or passively resisting” as a lower-impact use-of-force option.
- An instruction manual urges officers to give subjects a chance to comply and to limit use to about 15 seconds, and advises against use on vulnerable populations including the elderly and pregnant women.
- On Thursday, 16 Democratic senators led by Catherine Cortez Masto sent ICE a letter urging it to abandon the purchase and demanding disclosure of use-of-force rules and safeguards.
- A DHS spokesperson defended the procurement in a statement to CBS News, calling the Democratic criticism “despicable and a deliberate attempt to undermine and endanger our officers.”
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