An illegal immigrant from Guatemala, 31-year-old Eugenio Abraham Solis Klarks, has been accused of firing at a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper multiple times after a traffic stop turned into a dangerous pursuit. The incident occurred on January 12th around 6:30 pm in Lenoir City when Klarks was pulled over for speeding and asked to provide identification. He allegedly presented a Guatemalan consular ID card and then fled, leading authorities on a high-speed chase into Knox County. The pursuit ended when Klarks lost control of his vehicle, and a trooper approached him, at which point he emerged holding an assault rifle and aimed at the officer. Klarks was struck during the exchange of gunfire, and multiple firearms were recovered from his vehicle.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has filed an immigration detainer against Klarks, who is currently being held at the Knox County Jail and is charged with evading arrest. It is unclear whether he will face additional charges.
In response to this incident, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is pushing for a bill that would establish a centralized immigration enforcement division within the state’s Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security. This division would aim to combat illegal immigration and crime by incentivizing collaboration between federal immigration enforcement and state and local government entities.
The proposed legislation has been met with criticism from Democrats, who claim it is a “distraction” from the governor’s pro-school choice voucher legislation, which will also be considered during the special session. Senate Democratic Caucus spokesperson Brandon Puttbrese stated that Governor Lee is using his push for immigration policies to divide Tennesseans and advance his political agenda.
