Washington, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar and two senior House Democrats have urged the Trump administration to stop a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) procurement of gloves capable of delivering electric shocks, citing concerns over their safety and potential misuse.
The lawmakers said ICE had announced plans on August 10 to spend up to $20 million on the devices. They pointed to a warning from the manufacturer that their use “may result in injury or death” and questioned whether ICE personnel would receive adequate training before being authorised to use them.
Thanedar, ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Accountability, joined House Homeland Security Committee ranking member Bennie Thompson and Border Security Subcommittee ranking member Lou Correa in seeking intervention from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
In a letter to Mullin, the lawmakers asked the Department of Homeland Security to halt the proposed procurement until concerns over training, safety and use-of-force safeguards are addressed.
The Democratic lawmakers said ICE’s announcement did not specify the manufacturer, the number of gloves proposed for purchase or the expected timeline for the procurement.
They also expressed concern about providing immigration enforcement personnel with another potentially dangerous device, citing what they described as ICE’s record concerning deadly force and the misuse of weapons classified as less lethal.
The lawmakers further alleged that training requirements for newly recruited ICE personnel had been reduced under the Trump administration.
“Given ICE’s horrific record of violence against the public,” they argued, the agency should not be equipped with a device requiring significant training and restraint without adequate safeguards.
The lawmakers warned that improper use of the gloves could result in serious injury or death. Their statement did not include responses from DHS, ICE or the manufacturer, nor did it explain ICE’s rationale for seeking the technology or detail any safeguards under consideration.
Electric-shock devices are generally designed to temporarily incapacitate individuals, but their potential risks can vary depending on factors including electrical output, duration of contact, manner of use and the medical condition of the person exposed.
The proposed procurement is likely to draw further congressional scrutiny as the administration expands immigration enforcement and recruitment, particularly over procurement oversight, safety testing, use-of-force policies and specialised training for officers.
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