ICE Acquires Robot Dogs and Electrified Gloves for Enforcement

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its surveillance and enforcement capabilities through the acquisition of robot dogs, electrified gloves, and advanced social media monitoring tools. Federal records show a $2 million expenditure for Spot quadruped robots from Boston Dynamics, while a separate contract worth nearly $17 million will provide over 6,000 electrified gloves designed to incapacitate targets.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security states the robots will be used for hazard assessment and officer safety in confined or dangerous areas, asserting that the machines will not make arrests and that officers remain trained in de-escalation. These procurements follow a $70 billion supplemental funding package passed through the Secure America Act under the second Trump administration, which aims to target high-priority individuals for arrest and deportation.

Civil liberties advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have criticized the move, warning that the new equipment could lead to reckless raids and excessive force. Boston Dynamics has maintained a strict prohibition against the weaponization of its robotic systems.