Ramirez, 49 Lawmakers Demand an End to DHS’s $16.7 Million Contract to Purchase Electric Shock Gloves

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Ranking Member of a Subcommittee in the Committee of Homeland Security, led 49 colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in demanding the immediate cancellation of DHS's $16.7 million contract to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with electric shock gloves, officially called Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters (G.L.O.V.E.) and the total ban of abusive devices across all immigration enforcement and detention operations.

Additionally, the lawmakers requested information regarding training and protocol for the G.L.O.V.E usage, detailed documents regarding testing of the device, a comprehensive inventory of all "less-lethal" weapons being used by ICE and CBP personnel, and detailed information on internal investigations over the misuse of "less-lethal" weapons. The Secretary must provide an answer by September 18, 2026.

"Introducing low-visibility electric shock weapons into our immigration enforcement system is an unacceptable escalation that prioritizes physical intimidation and unaccountable force over human safety and administrative accountability. We reiterate our demand that you immediately halt the acquisition and deployment of electric shock gloves, cancel the contract, and refocus the Department's resources on accountability and humanitarian standards rather than expanding a paramilitary apparatus," wrote the lawmakers.

Human rights organizations and civil rights advocates have heavily criticized the use of the shock gloves, noting the history of abuse from DHS agents. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has also listed the G.L.O.V.E. as violating the Convention Against Torture. A 2024 user manual for the G.L.O.V.E indicates that the device can cause an increase in blood pressure and changes in heart rhythm. It also states that the "CD3s may increase the affects that can cause sudden death". The manufacturer also states that the gloves should be avoided for subduing elderly or disabled people, small children, and pregnant women-populations that have been subjected to DHS's immigration enforcement abuse.

The letter was signed by Reps. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Summer Lee (PA-12), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Yassamin Ansari (AR-03), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Henry "Hank" Johnson (GA-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Gabe Vazquez (NM-02), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Emily Randall (WA-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Adriano Espaillat (BY-13), Robert Menendez (NJ-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Al Green (TX-09), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Don Beyer (VA-08), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Greg Casar (TX-35).

For the full letter, CLICK HERE.