Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has sparked outrage among employees after making a controversial joke during an internal event in Las Vegas. During his keynote address, he asked international staff members to stand up, humorously suggesting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were monitoring their actions. This comment was met with boos from the audience, indicating widespread disapproval among employees. Additionally, his remarks were later edited out of an internal recording, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the issue.

As a response to the incident, a significant number of Salesforce employees are urging Benioff to publicly denounce ICE and to reconsider any business engagements with the agency. This pushback reflects broader concerns within the company, particularly among international workers who may feel vulnerable amid ongoing immigration debates in the United States. Reports indicate that leaders from Slack, owned by Salesforce, have also recommended that an apology from Benioff is necessary to mend the company’s internal discord.

This incident sheds light on the political climate within major corporations and their executives, particularly around topics such as immigration. As the conversation intensifies about the role of corporate leaders in social issues, the fallout from Benioff’s remarks could lead to significant discussions about corporate responsibility and employee rights, especially in relation to immigration policies that have been a point of contention in the U.S. Recent movements within companies like Salesforce may well influence how other tech leaders navigate these sensitive waters moving forward.