House Dems introduce legislation to ban ICE agents from using electric shock gloves: ‘Under no circumstances can DHS be trusted with the power to inflict sudden death,’ Rep. Delia Ramirez says
House Democrats have introduced legislation that would ban federal immigration agents from using electric shock gloves, with Rep. Delia Ramirez warning that the Department of Homeland Security cannot be trusted with devices capable of causing serious injury or death.
The No Shock Act
Ramirez and Rep. Madeleine Dean introduced the No Shock Act amid DHS plans to acquire thousands of electric gloves for Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel. The legislation would prohibit federal officers enforcing immigration laws from using the devices and extend the restriction to state and local officers working under federal immigration partnerships.
DHS plans to spend approximately $16.7 million on 6,000 gloves for ICE personnel. The devices deliver an electrical stimulus through direct skin contact and are marketed by their manufacturer as a compliance and de-escalation tool for law enforcement and corrections officers.
“For years, DHS has spent billions of taxpayer dollars to amass paramilitary weapons while simultaneously attempting to shield itself and its agents from accountability. Using surveillance tech and tools of torture, DHS has already proven its capacity to perpetrate state-sanctioned abuse and arbitrary cruelty. Under no circumstances can DHS be trusted with electric shock gloves and the power to inflict ‘sudden’ death,” Ramirez said. “After opening a congressional inquiry to demand that DHS immediately halt the acquisition and deployment of electric shock gloves, I’m joining Rep. Dean to prohibit these cruel devices from being used during immigration enforcement.”
Dean also sharply criticized the planned acquisition.
“For nearly two years, we have witnessed grotesquely un-American behavior from ICE agents — the tragic killing of innocent Americans, the wrongful arrests of lawful residents and peaceful protesters, and the inhumane conditions at ICE facilities across the country,” Dean said. “Now, DHS seeks to further arm ICE agents with electric shock gloves, enabling them to inflict even more pain with zero accountability.”
DHS defends itself
DHS defended the equipment and criticized the Democratic proposal.
“Sanctuary politicians attempting to ban our federal law enforcement from any safety equipment is despicable and a deliberate attempt to undermine and endanger our officers,” a DHS spokesperson said.
The gloves include the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter manufactured by Compliant Technologies. The company warns that its technology is not risk-free and that failure to follow appropriate procedures “may result in injury or death if not followed or observed.”
The House Judiciary Committee has received no bipartisan support for the No Shock Act as of Tuesday, September 8.