Marc Benioff Jokes ICE Monitors Salesforce Staff Visiting the U.S.

The Salesforce all-hands meeting in Las Vegas took an unexpected turn when CEO Marc Benioff made a controversial joke regarding ICE monitors. This event has raised significant concerns among employees regarding the company’s ties to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Benioff’s Joke Stirs Controversy

During his keynote address, which took place on a Tuesday, Benioff acknowledged the international employees who had traveled to the United States for the meeting. He asked these employees to stand, making a remark that ICE agents were present to monitor them. This comment quickly became a point of contention among Salesforce staff, leading to discussions on the company’s internal messaging platform.

Employee Reactions

Multiple employees expressed their shock and confusion after hearing the joke. Internal Slack discussions revealed various reactions, including:

• “What was the ice joke?”
• “If you’re visiting from outside the United States, please stand … ICE is keeping track of that.”
• “Please everyone stand who traveled here internationally. And then while they are still standing, ‘there are ICE agents in the hall to keep tabs on you.’”

One employee described the atmosphere in the room, stating, “The room groaned. We couldn’t believe he said that.”

Contextual Concerns

The controversy surrounding Benioff’s comments is compounded by Salesforce’s existing contracts with ICE, which have been a source of internal dissent. Many employees have voiced their discontent about the implications of such agreements.

Further Remarks From Benioff

Following the ICE joke, Benioff made another quip about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance. Employees noted that, in light of the previous comment, this second joke seemed particularly tone-deaf.

Internal Backlash

Salesforce employees took to a dedicated Slack channel to address their grievances. Highlights from those discussions included:

• A meme referencing a Nazi officer asking, “Are we the baddies?”
• Questions about the potential need for an apology or acknowledgment from management.
• Concerns about the lack of recognition regarding employee sentiments

Many employees feel this incident represents a significant disconnect between management and staff. The fallout from Benioff’s comments continues to resonate within the company.