• by Ray Schultz , September 11, 2018

Salesforce is under increasing pressure to cut its business with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Activists are urging speakers to drop out of the upcoming Salesforce conference, Dreamforce, and Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters has pulled out of catering the event, according to Fight for the Future, an advocacy group. 

In addition, RAICES, an immigrant rights organization, refused a $250,000 donation from Salesforce. And the groups threaten to escalate to “high-profile in person protests” at Dreamforce and related events.

“Salesforce prides itself on being a socially responsible company and usually partners with those who share that same values” states Jelani Drew, campaigner for Fight for the Future. We’re asking featured speakers at Dreamforce to use their platform to urge Salesforce to drop their contract with CBP.”

“We stand with the over 800 Salesforce workers who’ve asked Salesforce leadership to commit to canceling the CBP contract,” adds Jonathan Ryan, executive director of RAICES.

In August, Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff joined other members of the Business Roundtable, including Apple’s Timothy D. Cook and JP Morgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, in signing a letter charging that U.S. immigration policies threaten the livelihoods of skilled foreign workers, and the nation’s economic growth, according to The New York Times. 

A month earlier, Benioff tweeted: “Our employees asked me to review how CBP uses us & I included them…Salesforce doesnt work with CBP regarding separation of families at the border. We dont have an agreement with ICE.” When queried, a Salesforce spokesperson referred MediaPost to that statement.

Salesforce, a specialist in CRM technology, is helping CBP modernize its recruiting process, manage border activities and digital engagement with citizens, the firm said in March.  

The Dreamforce event runs from Sept. 24 to Sept. 28 in San Francisco, and reportedly is sold out.