Court documents indicate that an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala is accused of shooting at a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper multiple times following a traffic stop that escalated into a perilous chase.
The incident unfolded on January 12 when Tennessee officials stopped Eugenio Abraham Solis Klarks for speeding around 6:30 p.m. in Lenoir City and requested identification. A reliable source informed Fox News Digital that the individual in question was residing unlawfully in the U.S. after immigrating from Guatemala.
After being pulled over, Klarks purportedly provided a consular ID card from Guatemala. However, as authorities attempted to issue a ticket, he reportedly absconded, initiating a “high-speed pursuit into Knox County” as outlined in court documents.
“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,” court documents state. “The defendant was struck during the exchange of gunfire. Multiple firearms were recovered from the Defendant’s vehicle.”
Tennessee is one of dozens of states that have seen increases in crimes by illegal immigrant suspects, including those affiliated with the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
The division would incentivize collaboration between federal immigration enforcement and state and local government entities, as well as prohibit state and local governments from enacting so-called “sanctuary city” policies in which local officials do not cooperate with ICE.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and other Republican state politicians are considering a bill that would establish a “centralized immigration enforcement division” within the state’s Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security in an effort to crack down on illegal immigration and crimes like the Jan. 12 shooting. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Additionally, the division would hire a chief immigration enforcement officer, appointed by Gov. Lee, who would oversee “state and local collaboration with federal immigration agencies” and facilitate “efficient communication between state, local, and federal agencies with respect to immigration policy and enforcement,” among other duties, according to a summary of the bill.
“With this legislation, Tennessee continues to lead the nation in fighting illegal immigration,” state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson said in a statement. “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.”
Democrats have criticized the proposed legislation as a “distraction” from the governor’s pro-school choice voucher legislation, which will also be considered during the special session, along with disaster funding for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“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 told The Tennessean. “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.”
