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Pembroke, Robeson County

Pembroke: Lumbee Tribe and Homeland Security announce a public-safety partnership

Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Chairman John Lowery spoke Friday at tribal headquarters. The Robesonian and WPDE both covered the announcement. No written agreement was posted.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Newsroom · Published

What we know

Confirmed

  • U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery announced a partnership Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, aimed at making Lumbee tribal land safer.Confirmed by Remarks at Friday's Pembroke announcement, as reported by The Robesonian and WPDE
  • The Robesonian placed the press conference in Pembroke. WPDE placed it at Lumbee Tribe headquarters in Pembroke.Confirmed by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026; WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • U.S. Rep. David Rouzer and William Kirkland, the Interior Department's assistant secretary for Indian affairs, also appeared on the dais.Confirmed by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026; WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Both accounts said illegal drugs and overdoses are a central focus, and that the Tribe wants closer work with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security, and other agencies.Confirmed by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026; WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Mullin talked about helping the Tribe stand up its own officers as it takes on more of that work as a sovereign government.Confirmed by Markwayne Mullin, as reported by The Robesonian and WPDE
  • WPDE wrote that he did not announce a specific deployment of federal officers to Robeson County.Confirmed by WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Both writeups said disaster recovery is part of the conversation, including FEMA help the Tribe could not use before federal recognition.Confirmed by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026; WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Lowery, quoted by The Robesonian, named Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence and said the Tribe is still doing cleanup and mitigation. He said recognition now lets the Tribe seek FEMA set-asides for tribes.Confirmed by John Lowery, as reported by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Mullin, in that same Robesonian account, said his staff would teach tribal officials how to file FEMA paperwork so money is not left unused.Confirmed by Markwayne Mullin, as reported by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026
  • Both accounts said the Tribe received full federal recognition in December 2025.Confirmed by The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026; WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026
  • A Saturday morning check of lumbeetribe.com and the Homeland Security news page found no posted memorandum or press release for this Pembroke announcement. The department's Oct. 23 release covered Mullin's Coast Guard stop in Elizabeth City, not this event.Confirmed by lumbeetribe.com homepage; DHS news release, Oct. 23, 2026

Still unknown

  • Whether any signed agreement, budget, or staffing plan exists
  • How many additional officers, if any, and when any new work would start
  • Whether Robeson County officials have asked for a federal deployment

What this means for you

Instructions from Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

This site is not the Lumbee Tribe, Homeland Security, or an emergency service. For tribal programs, use lumbeetribe.com or 910-521-7861. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

In Pembroke, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery announced a partnership Friday aimed at making tribal land safer.

The Robesonian and WPDE both reported from the event at tribal headquarters. U.S. Rep. David Rouzer and Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William Kirkland also appeared on the dais.

Lowery told the gathering that illegal drugs remain a core problem for Lumbee families and that the Tribe intends to work with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, Homeland Security, and other agencies.

Mullin talked about helping the Tribe stand up its own officers once it takes on more of that work as a sovereign government. WPDE wrote that he did not announce a specific deployment of federal agents to the county.

Both accounts said disaster recovery is part of the conversation. Lowery, quoted by The Robesonian, named Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence and said recognition now lets the Tribe seek FEMA set-asides it could not use before. Mullin said his staff would teach tribal officials how to file that paperwork.

The Tribe gained full federal status in December 2025. Neither outlet posted a signed memorandum or a dollar figure. A Saturday morning check of lumbeetribe.com and the Homeland Security news page found none.

What we don't know yet

Officials have not said how many officers, if any, would be added, what the budget is, or when any new work would start. We have not read a written pact.

What happens next

For tribal programs, use lumbeetribe.com or 910-521-7861. This site is not the Tribe or an emergency service. If someone is in danger, call 911.

Photos

Text-only. We did not use outlet or government photos.

Why it matters

Pembroke is the seat of Lumbee government. Readers need a clear account of what Friday's speakers announced, that no written pact was posted, and that this site is not the Tribe or an emergency office.

Updates

  1. Oct 24, 2026, 6:05 AM

    The Robesonian and WPDE report that Mullin and Lowery announced a public-safety partnership Friday in Pembroke. No signed agreement was posted on the Tribe or DHS sites Saturday morning.

Sources

  1. Mullin, Lowery talk partnership between DHS, Tribe (The Robesonian, Oct. 23, 2026, Chris Stiles: Friday announcement in Pembroke; Mullin and Lowery; Rouzer and Kirkland on the dais; drugs and overdoses; standing up tribal officers; FEMA after Matthew and Florence; recognition in December of last year; Mullin on FEMA paperwork)

    Official sourcePublished by The Robesonian · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 6:00 AM

  2. Lumbee Tribe partners with Homeland Security to strengthen safety and security (WPDE, Oct. 23, 2026, 6:18 p.m., Tonya Brown and Braeden Doyle: headquarters in Pembroke; Mullin, Lowery, Rouzer, Kirkland; drugs and violent crime; standing up tribal officers; no specific federal deployment announced; FEMA preparedness; recognition in December 2025)

    Published by WPDE · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 6:00 AM

  3. Secretary Mullin Visits U.S. Coast Guard Facilities in North Carolina (DHS, Oct. 23, 2026: Elizabeth City Aviation Logistics Center and Aviation Technical Training Center; does not mention the Pembroke announcement)

    Official sourcePublished by U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Checked Oct 24, 2026, 6:00 AM

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