Las Vegas, Nev. — Marc Benioff, CEO and co-founder of Salesforce, is facing significant backlash after making a controversial joke during an internal company conference. His remarks, perceived as flippantly addressing monitoring by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have caused an uproar among employees, particularly those from international backgrounds.

In his keynote address on Tuesday, Benioff invited international employees to stand before jokingly noting that ICE agents were “watching” them. This prompted loud disapproval from the audience, with several employees expressing their dismay. Reports indicate that subsequent recordings of the speech were edited to remove the contentious comments entirely, illustrating the immediate fallout of his remarks.

The response from employees has been swift and unified, with many publicly calling for Benioff to apologize. Additionally, leaders at Slack, Salesforce’s subsidiary, have expressed their disapproval and support for a formal retraction. Hundreds of Salesforce employees are reportedly preparing to push Benioff to denounce ICE and cease any ties with the agency, highlighting the rising tension within the organization.

Benioff’s recent comments mark a departure from the socially responsible posture he has typically maintained. Previously, he publicly supported progressive policies, including a 2018 initiative in San Francisco to impose a tax on large corporations to fund homeless services. However, in recent years, some of his statements, particularly regarding political figures, have sparked controversy. Last year, he controversially expressed support for enhanced security measures in response to concerns in San Francisco, ultimately retracting some of these statements amidst public scrutiny.

The current backlash highlights a stark contrast between Benioff’s previous advocacy for diversity and inclusion and the implications of his recent comments. Many employees fear for their safety and job security, particularly those on work visas. Farone Rasheed, a Salesforce employee, articulated this anxiety in a message on LinkedIn, expressing feelings of anger and frustration over leadership’s rhetoric.

Slack’s general manager, Rob Seaman, also addressed the incident, stating in an internal message that he could not defend or rationalize the comments made by Benioff. He emphasized that such jokes do not reflect personal values shared by many employees.

Despite the growing criticism, Salesforce has yet to provide an official statement addressing the controversy. The situation underscores ongoing concerns among employees regarding how management balances humor and sensitivity in a diverse workplace, particularly as corporate leaders grapple with the implications of their statements in a highly charged political climate. The outcome of this incident may set a significant precedent for corporate governance and employee relations within the tech industry and beyond.