Mayor Lurie Denies Frequent Talks with Outgoing DHS Secretary Noem

City Hall source says mayor has not spoken to Noem in 4 months, contradicting her claim of "great conversations" and cooperation.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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According to a San Francisco City Hall source, Mayor Daniel Lurie has not spoken with outgoing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in the past 4 months, despite Noem's claim that they talk "quite often" and have "great conversations." The mayor's office has declined to comment on Noem's statements.

Why it matters

This discrepancy raises questions about the nature of communication and cooperation between San Francisco's city leadership and the federal government, particularly around immigration enforcement issues that have been contentious in the city.

The details

During a press conference on Thursday, Noem told a San Francisco police union official that Mayor Lurie "works with us very well" and that they have "great conversations" and talk "quite often." However, a City Hall source says Lurie has not spoken to Noem in 4 months, since a call he received from President Trump in October regarding federal immigration agents. San Francisco has largely avoided the large-scale immigration raids seen in other cities, but the Department of Homeland Security still conducts arrests in the Bay Area.

  • On October 2, Mayor Lurie received a call from President Trump preceding the president's decision to pull back federal immigration agents from the Bay Area.
  • In the 4 months since that October call, the City Hall source says Mayor Lurie has not spoken to outgoing DHS Secretary Noem.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The mayor of San Francisco who has faced criticism over his handling of communications with the federal government regarding immigration enforcement.

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security who claimed she has "great conversations" and talks "quite often" with Mayor Lurie, a statement contradicted by a City Hall source.

Donald Trump

The former president who called Mayor Lurie on October 2 before deciding to pull back federal immigration agents from the Bay Area.

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What they’re saying

“You maybe have some challenges in San Francisco just because of your state laws and local laws. Although you've got a mayor that works with us very well. He probably doesn't want me to talk about it a lot, actually. But he has been cooperative and we have great conversations and talk quite often.”

— Kristi Noem, Outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security (San Francisco Standard)

What’s next

The mayor's office has declined to comment on Noem's statements, and it remains to be seen if the discrepancy will lead to further scrutiny of the communication between city and federal officials on immigration enforcement issues.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and lack of transparency around the relationship between San Francisco's city government and the federal immigration authorities, raising concerns about the mayor's handling of these sensitive communications.