Human Smuggler Jumps Into a River with a Baby in Attempt to Evade Texas Troopers [WATCH]

A Texas woman was arrested and charged with human smuggling and child endangerment after authorities say she attempted to flee a traffic stop near the southern border by jumping into the Rio Grande with an infant and trying to swim into Mexico.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the incident occurred on Dec. 19 in Laredo, a border city in South Texas.

DPS officials said Brenda Castro, a U.S. citizen, was a passenger in a Ford Explorer driven by her husband, who is also a U.S. citizen, when state troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop.

Castro’s husband allegedly refused to stop, prompting a pursuit.

DPS released dashcam footage showing the SUV traveling at a high rate of speed through residential neighborhoods and rural roadways as troopers attempted to stop the vehicle.

Authorities said the situation escalated when Castro exited the vehicle during the chase while carrying an infant and ran toward the Rio Grande, which separates the United States from Mexico.

Officials said Castro entered the river with the child and attempted to swim across to the Mexican side.

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DPS confirmed that Castro’s husband also entered the river and successfully swam across into Mexico, evading arrest.

A DPS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the husband made it to the Mexican side of the border and was not apprehended at the scene.

State and local law enforcement officers responded to the riverbank and directed Castro to return to the U.S. side with the infant.

Authorities said officers repeatedly instructed her in Spanish to get back to dry land with the child as she struggled in the water.

Video from the scene shows a law enforcement officer eventually removing the infant from the river.

While escorting Castro into a law enforcement vehicle following her arrest, an officer addressed her actions.

“I can’t believe you tried to run back with the baby. You both could have drowned,” the officer told Castro.

Authorities said the child was taken into protective custody and placed under the care of officials following the incident.

The condition of the child was not disclosed, but no injuries were reported.

After securing the scene, DPS troopers searched the Ford Explorer and discovered five illegal aliens inside the vehicle, authorities said.

The individuals were turned over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing.

DPS said the presence of the illegal aliens inside the vehicle led investigators to pursue human smuggling charges against Castro.

She was also charged with endangering a child due to the alleged attempt to flee into the river with the infant during the pursuit.

Officials did not immediately release the identities or nationalities of the illegal aliens found in the vehicle, nor did they specify whether the individuals were connected to any broader smuggling operation. DPS said the investigation remains ongoing.

The incident is the latest in a series of smuggling-related arrests along the Texas-Mexico border involving U.S. citizens accused of transporting illegal aliens.

State officials have repeatedly warned that human smuggling cases frequently involve dangerous conditions, including high-speed pursuits and attempts to evade law enforcement in remote or hazardous terrain.

Authorities emphasized that fleeing into the Rio Grande poses serious risks, particularly for children.

Law enforcement officials have documented numerous drownings in the river in recent years, especially during smuggling attempts or illegal crossings.

Castro was taken into custody at the scene and booked on the charges.

Additional details regarding court proceedings or bond information were not immediately available.