Images of federal agents chasing immigrants have rattled many. Others see evidence of an effective crackdown. It remains to be seen whether the operation might sway voters next year.

The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.

The U.S. Border Patrol is playing a leading role in immigration enforcement activities far from U.S. borders. Critics say the agents’ borderland ethos results in overly aggressive tactics in urban centers – while the agency proclaims it is protecting Americans.

A wide grin was plastered on Marimar Martinez’s face Thursday as she thanked her attorneys outside an Illinois courtroom and told reporters, “I’m just blessed. I’m happy.”

Prosecutors had accused Marimar Martinez and another defendant of ramming their cars into a federal vehicle in October. Her legal team argued it was federal agents who rammed her.

No details have been provided about how many agents will be in the Triangle after raids were conducted in Charlotte.

Jorge Jimenez, 54, of Rio Rico, faces a $15,000 fine and 6.5 years in prison for allowing vehicles through his checkpoint lane without inspection.

The Border Patrol is quietly monitoring millions of American drivers and detaining people through a surveillance program that flags “suspicious” travel patterns, an Associated Press investigation found.