Overview
- DHS posted a contracting notice Monday saying ICE may spend between $10 million and $20 million to buy G.L.O.V.E. shock gloves, with potential deliveries running through March 2027 and no final contract reported yet.
- White House border czar Tom Homan and DHS officials have framed the gloves as a non‑lethal alternative to firearms and say agents will receive training, certification and use‑of‑force oversight before they are issued.
- Civil‑rights groups and state leaders have pushed back sharply, and New York’s attorney general has opened a review, arguing the plan raises legal and accountability concerns that could delay or limit use.
- Safety and medical experts point to a 2024 investigation of Jonathan Mansfield’s death after repeated glove and Taser shocks, noting some glove shocks lasted far longer than the manufacturer’s 15‑second guidance.
- The device is already used in some jails and police units, and key open questions that will determine impact include whether DHS will award sole‑source contracts, disclose unit counts and pricing, and finalize strict training and reporting rules before rollout.