The Bay Area tech world is buzzing with another jaw-dropping revelation about Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s questionable corporate maneuvers. In a bombshell report, the New York Times uncovered a five-page memo revealing Salesforce’s ambitious pitch to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) expand its workforce by a staggering 10,000 new officers and agents.

The document, which surfaced amid Benioff’s controversial public support for Trump, details how the tech giant proposed using its AI software to implement an “aggressive, high-yield marketing strategy” for ICE recruitment. This isn’t just a one-off incident - Salesforce has apparently maintained government contracts dating back to the Obama administration.

Silicon Valley’s Ethical Tightrope

State Senator Scott Wiener didn’t mince words, calling the proposal “completely unacceptable” and criticizing the company for potentially helping ICE “terrorize people in American neighborhoods”. San Francisco Supervisor Danny Sauter echoed similar sentiments, expressing deep concern about the contradiction between claiming to support San Francisco while simultaneously courting ICE.

Follow the Money

Benioff’s corporate strategy seems transparently clear: federal agencies represent billions in revenue, and principles apparently take a backseat to profit. The company’s own earnings report cryptically acknowledges potential “reputational harm” from government relationships - a subtle nod to the ethical minefield they’re navigating.

A Classic Tech Titan Move

In a classic damage control pivot, Benioff has since walked back his earlier comments about deploying National Guard troops, apologizing and emphasizing community partnership. But the damage might already be done, leaving San Francisco’s tech community questioning the true values behind their local corporate giants.

As the dust settles, one thing remains crystal clear: in the world of tech capitalism, the bottom line always seems to win.