First responders across Los Angeles County are mourning the death of an Alhambra police officer who was killed in the line of duty early Thursday after a police pursuit ended in a violent crash. 

Officer Alec Sanders, 28, was on duty around 3 a.m. when Alhambra officers began pursuing an SUV with three suspects, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles.

During the chase, the suspect's vehicle slammed into Sanders’ patrol SUV, the impact so severe that a female suspect was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene, the outlet reported.

The front of Sanders’ patrol vehicle was crushed, and the airbags deployed. He was found unconscious and not breathing inside his SUV and rushed about four miles to Los Angeles General Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.

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Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy said Sanders had volunteered to cover an overnight shift for another officer that night.

The department described Sanders as "a dedicated public servant, a trusted partner, and a caring friend."

"He was known for his unwavering reliability and deep sense of discipline both on and off duty, leaving a lasting impact on those who served alongside him," Alhambra police wrote on Facebook. "He answered the call to serve and protect, and he did so with honor, integrity, and courage. His sacrifice will forever be remembered."

Sanders had joined the Alhambra Police Department in April 2025 after serving one year with the Long Beach Police Department.

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A somber procession accompanied his body to the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office later Thursday. 

Video from FOX 11 LA showed dozens of police officers walking behind the van carrying Sanders, with more first responders – from various police and fire agencies – lining the street outside the hospital to pay their respects.

Sanders is survived by his fiancée, his parents and two younger siblings.

"We ask that you keep his family, loved ones, and our department in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. We sincerely appreciate the overwhelming support from our law enforcement partners and community members. Thank you for standing with us as we honor Officer Sanders’ life and service," Alhambra police wrote on Facebook.

A lawsuit was filed Thursday against the federal government on behalf of immigrants facing fines reaching up to $1.8 million each for staying in the U.S. illegally.

Daily penalties of $998 have been levied against more than 21,500 immigrants, whose lawyers say they were attempting to comply with federal immigration laws. The fines were implemented to encourage immigrants to leave the country.

The lawyers said their clients were slapped with "ruinous civil fines" that are "grossly disproportionate to the gravity" of any immigration violations, arguing that the fines are unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts on behalf of two immigrant women, seeks class-action status to represent people facing fines that lawyers say have totaled more than $6 billion under President Donald Trump's mass deportation policies.

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"The people we serve are doing exactly what the law requires — pursuing legal relief through immigration courts and immigration agencies," Hasan Shafiqullah, a supervising attorney with The Legal Aid Society, one of the groups representing the immigrants, said in a news release. "In return, the government is threatening to seize their wages, cars, even their homes."

One of the two plaintiffs, a woman residing in Florida who was identified in the complaint only as Nancy M. to protect her from retribution, was instructed to leave the U.S., but also had an "order of supervision" and was meeting annually with immigration officials as she attempted to become a legal permanent resident.

Despite this, she received a bill earlier this year for about $1.8 million, which appeared to be reached through daily $998 fines for the past five years.

The Department of Homeland Security purported that the lawsuit was "just another attempt to nullify federal immigration law through activist litigation."

"The plaintiffs in this case are here illegally and are suing so they can remain in the country illegally without any consequence or penalty – contrary to decades-old federal law," DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

Shortly after Trump returned to the White House in January, his administration revealed a series of moves to encourage immigrants to leave the country, including DHS' announcement in February that illegal immigrants could face "significant financial penalty" if they choose not to self-deport.

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Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem "have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now," McLaughlin said in February.

"The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws — we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce," she added at the time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.