• ICE has awarded a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 pairs of electric shock gloves.
• The gloves are intended for controlling detainees and protesters.
• Opposition arises from civil rights groups and Democratic lawmakers over concerns of misuse.
• ICE states the devices will reduce reliance on more severe forms of force.
• The contract was awarded to Compliant Technologies without a bidding process.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has recently awarded a controversial $16.7 million contract for the purchase of 6,000 pairs of electric shock gloves intended for use by officers in managing detainees and individuals resisting arrest. This contract was announced amidst growing concerns from **civil rights advocates** and several Democratic members of Congress regarding how such devices might be misused during enforcement operations, which have previously faced scrutiny under the Trump administration's immigration policies, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

The gloves, labeled as "conductive distraction and de-escalation devices," are designed to deliver painful shocks when activated by an officer. ICE asserts that these devices will be used in high-tension situations to quickly gain control over those actively or passively resisting, thereby preventing injuries during arrests and other confrontational scenarios. Despite the safety rationale, many lawmakers express skepticism regarding ICE's capacity to deploy such a tool responsibly, particularly given past criticisms regarding the use of force, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.