US Lawmakers Demand Halt to ICE Electric Shock Glove Procurement Plan

A group of U.S. lawmakers led by Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has urged the Department of Homeland Security to abandon a multi-million dollar procurement plan for electric shock gloves intended for ICE officers. The legislators expressed deep concern about the potential for severe injury or death from the proposed devices, warning that such equipment poses unacceptable risks to both detainees and the general public.

In their appeal to Homeland Security Secretary, the lawmakers highlighted ICE's documented history of misconduct and inadequate officer training as primary reasons to reject the purchase. They argued that introducing electric shock technology into the agency's arsenal would increase the likelihood of misuse and escalate incidents involving unnecessary force.

The proposed procurement involves acquiring thousands of electric shock gloves at a cost spanning millions of dollars. Thanedar and his colleagues contended that such expenditure on equipment with inherent safety hazards represents a dangerous policy direction, particularly given the agency's track record of oversight failures.

The lawmakers called for an immediate halt to all procurement procedures related to the devices and urged a comprehensive review of ICE's use-of-force policies and equipment standards. Their intervention reflects growing congressional scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices and officer equipment protocols.