Ousted DHS Chief Noem Praises SF Mayor Lurie's Cooperation with Feds

Noem says Lurie 'works very well' with federal government on enforcement efforts

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In comments made at a police conference in Tennessee, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie's cooperation with the federal government, saying he 'works very well' with them and that they have 'great conversations' about enforcement efforts. Noem's remarks came shortly before President Trump announced he was firing her from her DHS position.

Why it matters

Noem's comments highlight the ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities, particularly around immigration enforcement, and suggest that San Francisco's mayor has been able to navigate those tensions more effectively than some other cities.

The details

During a Q&A session at the conference, Noem responded to a question from the San Francisco Police Officers Association VP about how the federal government could assist local law enforcement. Noem said that while San Francisco may face challenges due to state and local laws, 'you've got a mayor that works with us very well.' She added that Lurie 'probably doesn't want me to talk about it a lot' but has been 'cooperative' and that they have 'great conversations' and 'talk quite often.'

  • On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Noem made the comments at a big city police conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Shortly after Noem's comments, President Trump announced he was firing her from her position as DHS Secretary.

The players

Kristi Noem

The former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who was fired by President Trump shortly after making these comments.

Daniel Lurie

The Mayor of San Francisco, who Noem praised for cooperating well with the federal government on enforcement efforts.

Chris Galligan

The Vice President of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, who asked Noem a question about how the federal government could assist local law enforcement.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who fired Noem from her DHS position shortly after she made these comments.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You may 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. He has been cooperative. We have great conversations and talk quite often.”

— Kristi Noem, Former DHS Secretary (sfstandard.com)

What’s next

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Noem's remarks. It remains to be seen how Lurie and the federal government will continue to navigate their relationship on enforcement efforts going forward.

The takeaway

Noem's comments suggest that San Francisco's mayor has been able to maintain a cooperative relationship with federal authorities on enforcement issues, in contrast with the tensions seen in some other cities. This highlights the ongoing balancing act local leaders must navigate between local laws/values and federal priorities.