Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon wear gloves that deliver electric shocks to combative individuals. 

The agency plans to spend up to $20 million to purchase the "conducive distraction and de-escalation devices," according to the Associated Press, citing a Department of Homeland Security notice. 

The devices are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. The company calls them G.L.O.V.E., which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter. Some jails and law enforcement agencies are already using the devices. 

The company said the devices function as normal gloves until activated, which enables them to deliver a painful electric shock. They must be applied directly to someone's skin, which helps the officer gain compliance within seconds, according to the manufacturer.