New York Leaders Threaten Legal Action Over ICE's Potential $20 Million Electric Shock Glove Purchase

New York's Democratic leadership is signaling potential legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel should the agency proceed with acquiring and deploying a new piece of equipment: gloves designed to deliver an electric shock.

On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James jointly stated that recently enacted state protections could expose ICE officers to legal repercussions if these devices are utilized within New York's borders.

This warning emerges as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advances plans to procure thousands of devices, which federal procurement documents describe as "conductive distraction and de-escalation devices." The potential expenditure by ICE for this equipment could reach up to $20 million.

These new devices are formally known as the G.L.O.V.E., an acronym for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. Their design enables them to deliver an electrical charge upon making physical contact with an individual.

New York Officials Issue Stern Warning

Governor Hochul underscored the state's position when questioned about the controversial electric shock gloves, emphasizing the importance of constitutional rights.

You cannot trample on someone’s constitutional rights, and you cannot cause them undo harm. You will be held accountable.

She added that the state's protective measures "should be in effect here."

Attorney General James confirmed that her office is actively reviewing the DHS proposal to determine if the deployment of this technology would contravene New York state law. James indicated that the proposal "appears to be in violation of a number of laws," specifically mentioning the State Administrative Procedure Act.

Furthermore, James made it clear that her office would pursue legal action against DHS if any individual in New York were to sustain injury from these devices. "You can best be assured of that," James stated.

Federal Agency Responds to Concerns

In response to the concerns, a DHS spokesperson articulated the agency's commitment to officer safety and adherence to legal standards.

ICE is constantly assessing the needs of our officers in the field to ensure they have the tools and equipment necessary to safely arrest and remove criminal illegal aliens from our country.

Every decision is made with careful consideration and appropriately reviewed to ensure that any technology ICE utilizes is consistent with all applicable law enforcement policies and standards.

Our officers are highly trained in de-escalation tactics and regularly receive ongoing use of force training.

The Technology in Question

The G.L.O.V.E. devices are manufactured by Compliant Technologies, a company based in Lexington, Kentucky. Demonstration videos released by the company depict the devices being used on test subjects, who are shown falling to the ground after physical contact with an individual wearing the gloves.

When contacted regarding the potential federal acquisition, Jeff Niklaus, founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, declined to comment. In an email, Niklaus stated, "Unfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject."

Broader Context of State-Federal Tensions

The dispute over ICE's equipment acquisition aligns with broader efforts by Governor Hochul and Attorney General James to reduce cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities within New York. State law enforcement agencies have been given until August 24 to terminate civil immigration enforcement agreements with ICE, or potentially face legal repercussions.

As of July, James reported that a dozen law enforcement agencies across the state, including Nassau County, still maintained such agreements.