According to court filings, a Guatemalan illegal immigrant is accused of shooting at a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper multiple times after a traffic check evolved into a deadly chase.
On January 12, about 6:30 p.m., cops in Tennessee stopped Eugenio Abraham Solis Klarks in Lenoir City for speeding and asked him if he had any identification. A source who is knowledgeable about the situation verified that the suspect was living in the United States illegally after coming from Guatemala.
Klarks is said to have shown a Guatemalan consular ID card when they were pulled up. According to court records, he apparently ran when the authorities tried to issue a citation, “leading officers on a high-speed pursuit into Knox County.”
“The Defendant eventually lost control of his vehicle on Watt Road. When the first trooper approached his vehicle, the Defendant exited the vehicle holding an assault rifle, raised the weapon, and aimed at the trooper,” according to the court documents. “The defendant was struck during the exchange of gunfire. Multiple firearms were recovered from the Defendant’s vehicle.”
Prior to the incident, Klarks’ car was reportedly seen in Indianapolis and Macon, Georgia.
The suspect is currently being held at the Knox County Jail after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an immigration detainer against him. Although he is accused of avoiding arrest, he can face additional accusations in the road.
A plan that would create a “centralized immigration enforcement division” under the state’s Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security to combat illegal immigration and crimes like the Jan. 12 shooting is being considered by Tennessee Governor plan Lee and other Republican state lawmakers.
During a special session this week, the Tennessee legislature will discuss the bill as part of the governor’s immigration agenda.
Elizabeth Johnson, the governor’s spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday that “Last year, Gov. Lee directed key state agencies to begin preparing for federal immigration policy implementation.”
“In this special session, we will ensure the state is best positioned to coordinate with federal, state and local law enforcement to implement the Trump Administration’s plan to enforce the federal immigration laws on the books.”
The president, Johnson continued, “has made it clear that states will play a major role in partnering with his administration to make our communities safer.”
“Tennessee is heeding the call,” she stated.
Crimes committed by illegal immigrant suspects, especially those connected to the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, have increased in Tennessee and dozens of other states.
In addition to forbidding state and local governments from implementing so-called “sanctuary city” policies in which local authorities refuse to assist with ICE, the division would encourage cooperation between federal immigration enforcement and state and local government bodies.
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According to a bill summary, the division would also appoint a chief immigration enforcement officer, chosen by Governor Lee, who would be responsible for managing “state and local collaboration with federal immigration agencies” and promoting “efficient communication between state, local, and federal agencies with respect to immigration policy and enforcement,” among other responsibilities.
“With this legislation, Tennessee continues to lead the nation in fighting illegal immigration,” state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson stated. “This bold proposal will help alleviate the burden of illegal immigration on local governments by centralizing immigration enforcement, making it easier for the state and local governments to work with federal authorities to remove dangerous illegal immigrants from our communities. Additionally, we are taking action to hold local officials accountable for unlawfully harboring illegal immigrants, in clear violation of our state’s sanctuary city ban.”
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Along with disaster aid for communities affected by Hurricane Helene, Democrats have attacked the proposed legislation as a “distraction” from the governor’s pro-school choice voucher legislation, which will also be discussed during the special session.
“Gov. Bill Lee’s push for divisive immigration policies is a cynical distraction from his plan to expand his failed private school voucher scam statewide,” Senate Democratic Caucus spokesperson Brandon Puttbrese stated. “By mirroring Donald Trump’s extreme promise to deport immigrant workers, Gov. Lee is engaging in a calculated effort to divide Tennesseans in order to advance his political agenda.”
