The Republican chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee has delivered a subpoena calling on Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to turn over materials related to training and managing elections.

The subpoena was authorized last week as Republicans complained the Democratic Secretary of State has refused for months to turn over the entirety of materials related to conducting elections.

“I got to tell you, only the guilty need to feel guilty,” Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay) told the Michigan Public Radio Network. “What is [it] that they’re afraid to provide to us?”

There are, in fact, two subpoenas — one names Benson and the other the Michigan Department of State.  But they are otherwise identical. They were transmitted electronically Tuesday via an official portal. The request sets a deadline of 4 p.m. on May 14. The Secretary of State’s office confirmed it had received the documents.

House Republicans and Benson, who is the state’s top election administrator, have been trading jabs for weeks related to materials requested by the House Elections Committee. The Oversight Committee is the only House panel that has subpoena power and so the subpoena had to go through that panel.

The information request is wide-ranging, but DeBoyer focused on training materials.

“What other way are they going to find out if the training that they’re providing to local clerks is in accordance with state election law,” he said. “If the Secretary of State won’t provide the training information, there’s no way to find out if they’re training them according to election law.”

Benson has accused House Republicans of stoking doubt about the security of Michigan elections while GOP leaders say slow-walking their requests does exactly that.

Benson has already provided some of the material and says much of what the committee asked for is sensitive and would compromise election security, so it must be vetted before sharing.

Benson Chief Communications Officer Angela Benander called the announcement “an unnecessary press release about a subpoena that’s also unnecessary.”

“As we’ve communicated multiple times, we are in the process of producing the requested training materials on top of the hundreds of documents we’ve already provided to the committee,” Benander said in an email to the Michigan Public Radio Network. “But we will not provide open access to sensitive information that could jeopardize the security of our elections, and we’re prepared to make this case in court.”

The federal government has terminated the visitor status of four international students at Wayne State University and several other universities throughout the state.

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WSU President, Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, says the school discovered the move while checking its Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

She says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not notify the university or the students before terminating their status. Espy says the school is working with those affected and is advising all international students and staff to consult visa and immigration resources.

Several universities across the country — including the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University and Grand Valley State University — have also reported that immigration records were removed without notice.

Ari Harris, a spokesperson with CMU, told WCMU Public Media their affected students will have to re-apply for admittance or leave the country, as the university cannot reverse the terminations.

“This is of course, is very frightening for those students and the reasons that they were terminated are, are not always clear to them or to us,” she said, affirming that neither the university or the impacted students received notification of those status changes.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

–WCMU student reporter Blace Carpenter contributed to this report. 

Other headlines for Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

• Local police, state lawmakers and Detroit officials endorsed legislation to create a new public safety and violence prevention fund. The bipartisan bills would take a portion of sales tax revenue and let cities and counties use it to reduce violent crime. State House leaders say they plan to hold a vote on the bills next month. 
• The state is offering more than $18 million in grant funding to up to 25 agencies or organizations helping homeowners with weatherization and energy efficiency. 
• The city of Detroit’s Returning Citizens Task Force is hosting a Second Chance Employment & Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, at the St. Suzanne CRC Resource Center, 19321 W Chicago St. The event promises attendees an opportunity to meet with employers who are hiring and connect returning citizens to career resources.
• People for Palmer Park is hosting a Doggie Health and Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. The team from the park’s Unleashed Dog Park and the Michigan Humane Vaccination Clinic will offer health checks, microchipping and low cost vaccinations, as well as free doggie goody bags, a buffet of dog treats, raffles and giveaways. 
• Palmer Park’s volunteer organization is also planning the “Trash and Treasure Hunt” to celebrate Earth Day later this month. Volunteers of all ages can do some forest clean up while searching for “Aziza Fairies.” There will also be live music, art installations and a chance to build a fairy door, bird house or butterfly art. 

Do you have a community story we should tell? Let us know in an email at detroiteveningreport@wdet.org.

Soon all U.S. airlines will require REAL ID-compliant ID to board a domestic flight.

Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Jessica Mayle the requirement starts May 7. “Every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant ID. TSA is working to avoid checkpoint delays by encouraging all travelers to get their Real IDs now,” said Mayle.

Travelers without one could be delayed.

The federal REAL ID Act of 2005, passed in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks, requires higher standards for identification starting this year. The requirements apply to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

Upgrading a standard license or ID to a REAL ID is free in Michigan if done during the normal renewal period. Otherwise, a card correction fee of $9 for a driver’s license or $10 for an ID is charged.

When applying for a REAL ID, you will need to bring:

• Your driver’s license or ID
• Your Social Security Number
• Your certified birth certificate
• Your valid, U.S. passport (or an approved citizenship or legal presence document)

Because it can take weeks to receive it in the mail, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson encouraged those needing a REAL ID to apply soon.

Circle with star design: Standard REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs will display a star in a gold circle in the upper right corner.

Michigan silhouette with star design: Standard REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs will display a star in a silhouette of Michigan in the upper right corner.

Enhanced licenses and IDs are automatically REAL ID-compliant, regardless of whether they display the star.

Michiganders in need of a REAL ID can obtain one by going to Michigan.gov/REALID to schedule an appointment. The system will guide them through documents required.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said more than 73% of people with a Michigan driver’s license or ID have already upgraded to a REAL ID.