White House border czar Tom Homan on Thursday publicly backed the Department of Homeland Security's plan to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with electric shock gloves, framing the devices as a critical de-escalation tool that could prevent officers from resorting to lethal force.
"It's another device to help someone get compliant when they are not," Homan said during an appearance on Fox News' "Fox & Friends." "You can't just go from 0 to 100, right, and the first thing you go for is lethal force."
The remarks mark the Trump administration's first public defense of the gloves, which DHS outlined in a contracting notice earlier this week. The agency plans to spend up to $20 million on the devices, known as "Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters," or G.L.O.V.E.s, for use in immigration enforcement operations. The proposed acquisition has drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups and some lawmakers.
Manufactured by Compliant Technologies, the gloves deliver an electrical charge of up to 380 volts upon contact with exposed skin. Unlike a traditional taser, they are not designed to incapacitate a person and cannot penetrate clothing. The devices have been used in some correctional facilities and police departments, though they deliver a lower voltage than standard tasers.
Justin Hall, a jailer at a Kentucky facility that adopted the gloves four years ago, told the Associated Press that the tool has been effective in managing difficult inmates. Hall, who has been shocked more than 10 times during training, described the sensation as intense pain that subsides when contact is broken. He said the gloves serve as a strong deterrent when other de-escalation methods fail.
"It's just a safer way. It's safer on the inmate. It's safer on the staff. And most of the time, most of the time we get compliance," Hall said. "It's been a great tool for our facility."
Homan likened the gloves to tasers or pepper spray, emphasizing that they give officers another non-lethal option. He added that it would "be awhile" before ICE agents start using them, as the agency is still developing training protocols. According to the contracting notice, DHS could distribute the gloves as early as March 2027.
The debate over the gloves comes amid broader immigration policy changes under the administration, which has prioritized enforcement and border security. Critics argue that introducing new force options could escalate encounters, while supporters see them as a way to reduce fatalities.
Homan's defense also aligns with the administration's push for border enforcement measures, though the gloves are intended for interior operations. The DHS notice did not specify how many gloves would be purchased or the exact timeline for deployment.
