Plan to supply ICE officers with electric-shock gloves
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The gist
ICE plans to spend up to $20m on electric-shock gloves. Civil liberties groups decry the plan, citing abuse fears.
Background
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced plans to purchase thousands of electric-shock gloves, with a budget of up to $20 million. The gloves, which deliver a painful shock described as a 'bee sting', are intended to help officers subdue individuals quickly. However, the plan has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups who worry about potential misuse and lack of transparency. The gloves have been linked to the death of a Kentucky man who was allegedly shocked 27 times in a county jail, raising further concerns.
How it unfolded
- Fri, 21 Aug 2026Reports emerge that ICE is planning to outfit officers with gloves that deliver 'bee sting' electric shocks.
- Sun, 23 Aug 2026ICE confirms plans to spend up to $20m on thousands of electric-shock gloves, sparking safety and legal concerns.
- Mon, 24 Aug 2026Civil liberties groups publicly decry the plan, citing the gloves' link to the death of a Kentucky man allegedly shocked 27 times in a county jail.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- ICE sees the gloves as a tool to bring individuals into compliance quickly, with the manufacturer claiming effectiveness in less than three seconds.
- Critics
- Civil liberties groups question transparency and potential misuse, pointing to the gloves' link to a death in a Kentucky jail.
Still unverified
The claim that the gloves were linked to the death of a Kentucky man allegedly shocked 27 times is based on reports and has not been independently verified.