New York Democratic leaders Kathy Hochul and Letitia James warned that ICE could face legal action over the agency’s planned acquisition of electric shock gloves. Democratic elected officials and civil rights advocates called ICE’s plan to equip officers and agents with the gloves “unnecessary and cruel.”

The Department of Homeland Security is planning a procurement of up to $20 million for the gloves for personnel in ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations units.

Delivery is targeted by March. Reports from NPR, BBC and ABC News describe the procurement as planned, not a completed contract.

The gloves can deliver a sharp electric shock intended to compel subjects to comply during arrests. Compliant Technologies, the company that makes them, describes the devices as a nonlethal tool to make individuals compliant.

Called G.L.O.V.E., the devices work as ordinary patrol gloves until a switch activates the shock. The manufacturer cautions against using the gloves as punishment, in response to verbal defiance or on some high-risk groups. DHS says ICE’s use of the technology will follow applicable policies and standards.