California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday signed into law a statewide ban on the use of electric shock gloves by law enforcement, intensifying the state's confrontation with the Trump administration over immigration policy. The measure, effective next year and extending through 2030, applies to local, state, and federal officers operating within California.
The ban responds to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) recent acquisition of thousands of these devices. In August, ICE awarded a nearly $17 million contract for 6,000 pairs of shock gloves, with plans to spend up to $20 million on the technology, known as Generated Low Outage Voltage Emitter. The agency intended to use them during field operations, a move Newsom and other critics condemned as an escalation in aggressive enforcement tactics.
“These are Orwellian tools that have no place in our communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will not stand by while the federal government deploys such tactics against our people.”
The governor also signed a package of legislation aimed at strengthening oversight of immigration detention facilities and increasing transparency around federal enforcement actions. One new law bars state agencies from hiring former federal immigration agents who have committed serious misconduct. Another adds health, safety, and oversight requirements for civil detention centers operating in the state.
Additionally, a measure requires law enforcement officers who use rental vehicles during detentions, arrests, or transportation to display a temporary decal identifying their agency. This is intended to ensure accountability and visibility during operations.
Newsom framed the legislative package as a direct counter to what he described as President Trump's prioritization of “political interests” over the “health, safety, and livelihood of American families.” He emphasized California's role in stepping up where the federal government has failed.
“California is taking action to strengthen transparency, accountability, and oversight around immigration enforcement in our state,” Newsom said. “This is about stepping up where the federal government has failed our communities. We will continue protecting our people, upholding the rule of law, and making clear that if the federal government operates in California, we will hold them accountable.”
The measure also directs the California Department of Justice to conduct a safety study on shock devices, potentially informing future regulations. The Hill has reached out to ICE for comment on the ban.
This latest move follows a series of clashes between California and the Trump administration over immigration policy, including demands for investigations into federal data operations and legal battles over ballot seizures. The state has also faced federal challenges to its environmental regulations, as seen in the House vote to strip a port pollution waiver.
Advocates for immigrant rights have praised the new laws, while critics argue they hinder federal enforcement efforts. The ban is set to take effect in 2025, giving law enforcement agencies time to adjust.
