ICE Procures Shock Gloves Despite Internal Army Evidence of Intense Pain

The Army tested the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (GLOVE) at a Fort Leavenworth prison in October 2024 to evaluate its effectiveness in managing noncompliant detainees. Participants, including large-statured men, ceased resistance within seconds of contact. The study noted that the device functions by overloading peripheral nerve endings, leaving subjects with lingering soreness and profound anxiety regarding further shocks. Unlike tasers, which induce muscle freezing, the GLOVE is specifically engineered to elicit pain.

While the manufacturer's manual warns against using the device on vulnerable populations—including children, pregnant individuals, and the elderly—critics argue that ICE lacks the oversight to prevent misuse. The device's ability to deliver painful stimuli without leaving physical marks has drawn concern from human rights advocates and lawmakers, who fear it will become an tool for unchecked force. Former ICE acting director John Sandweg warned that the ease of deployment invites haphazard use, while the agency has yet to respond to formal congressional inquiries regarding safety protocols or operational guardrails for the pending rollout.