US News

Army study on ICE shock gloves found pain and fear induced compliance

ICE officials reviewed findings before purchasing 6,000 pairs of gloves for $16.7 million, according to ABC News.

Updated Oct 7, 2026 · 22:13 UTC4 reports

The short version

A previously unreleased Army evaluation revealed that shock gloves caused severe pain and fear that quickly halted resistance in military exercises.[ABC News]
Records obtained by American Oversight show ICE leaders knew of the study results before finalizing a $16.7 million contract in August to purchase 6,000 pairs.[ABC News]
ICE defends the equipment as a non-lethal de-escalation tool to safeguard officers, while critics and oversight advocates argue the devices cause excessive pain without proven safety.[ABC News]

An October 2024 Army exercise at Fort Leavenworth found that shock gloves caused intense pain and prompted rapid compliance by overloading peripheral nerve endings.[ABC News]
Agency leadership was aware of the Army study before ICE entered into a $16.7 million contract in August to buy 6,000 shock-glove pairs.[ABC News]
ICE maintains the gloves are de-escalation devices intended to prevent lethal force and improve agent safety during arrests and civil demonstrations.[ABC News]
The device manufacturer cautions against deploying the shock gloves on children, pregnant individuals, and people with disabilities.[ABC News]

It remains unverified whether the gloves can be deployed safely without leading to excessive force or health hazards during civil operations.[ABC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.