Salesforce Inc. (CRM) is dealing with more than just stock price pressure. The company's employees are pushing back hard against CEO Marc Benioff after a joke about immigration enforcement went sideways, and reports surfaced that Salesforce might be pitching its AI technology to ICE.

When A Joke Isn't Funny

Here's what happened: Salesforce ran a Super Bowl ad featuring MrBeast during Sunday's big game. But that's not what has people talking. Instead, it's a joke Benioff made at the company's annual leadership event on Monday that's causing headaches.

According to WIRED, Benioff asked international employees to stand during the event to recognize their contributions. Then he quipped that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the building keeping an eye on them. Not exactly the kind of humor that lands well in today's climate.

The joke came at an especially awkward time. Employees have learned that Salesforce is reportedly pitching ICE on using its Agentforce AI technology. That combination has sparked serious internal tensions.

WIRED reports that Salesforce employees are now circulating a letter calling on Benioff to denounce ICE's actions, commit to keeping Salesforce technology away from the agency, and support federal legislation to limit the agency's operations. MarketDash reached out to Salesforce for comment.

The letter references what it calls a "devastating indictment of a system that has discarded human decency," specifically mentioning the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both killed in Minnesota during ICE's escalation in the state.

"We are deeply troubled by leaked documentation revealing that Salesforce has pitched AI technology to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help the agency 'expeditiously' hire 10,000 new agents and vet tip-line reports," the letter states.

Using Agentforce for ICE operations would represent a "fundamental betrayal of our commitment to the ethical use of technology," employees wrote.

This isn't Benioff's first controversy recently. He drew backlash in late 2025 after publicly supporting sending the National Guard to San Francisco to address crime. He later apologized and walked back those remarks following criticism, and President Donald Trump subsequently called off a planned federal deployment.

The Broader Tech Industry Dilemma

Salesforce isn't alone in facing pressure over potential ICE partnerships. While political issues have long created tension between employees and management, ICE's widespread unpopularity has amplified these confrontations.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR), which reportedly works with ICE, has faced pressure from both employees and investors. Some shareholders see ethical dilemmas in owning stock in companies taking actions that many view as harmful.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) recently cancelled a partnership for its Ring unit that would have involved working with Flock Safety. The company faced backlash from a Super Bowl commercial showcasing Ring's technology and also dealt with pressure over Flock Safety's reported ties to ICE, which that company has denied.

For companies like Salesforce that offer AI technology potentially useful to government agencies, these situations create real challenges. They have to balance business opportunities against public perception and employee pushback. As AI capabilities expand, these dilemmas are likely to intensify.

Where The Stock Stands

Salesforce shares were up 2.8% to $190.53 on Friday, trading within a 52-week range of $180.24 to $329.74. The stock has taken a beating, down 25% year-to-date in 2025 and down 42% over the past year. The company has struggled alongside other software companies as investors grapple with how traditional software businesses fit into an AI-dominated future. Now it has internal employee relations to worry about too.