Texas woman tries to flee to Mexico across Rio Grande with infant after human smuggling bust
Dashcam footage released by DPS shows the SUV traveling at a high speed along residential and rural roads. Lt. Chris Olivarez/X
A Texas woman was arrested after authorities said she tried to evade law enforcement by swimming across the Rio Grande into Mexico while carrying an infant. Five undocumented immigrants were found in the vehicle she was traveling in.
Brenda Castro, a U.S. citizen, was a passenger in a Ford Explorer driven by her husband, also a U.S. citizen, on Dec. 19 in Laredo, Texas, when he reportedly refused to stop for Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers.
Dashcam footage released by DPS showed the SUV traveling at high speeds on both residential and rural roads.
Authorities said a high-speed chase began after Castro exited the vehicle with the infant and attempted to swim across the Rio Grande. Her husband also swam to Mexico, according to a DPS spokesperson.
State and local law enforcement directed Castro to return to the U.S. side, where she was arrested. Officers were heard on video instructing her in Spanish to get back to shore with the child, and one officer was seen taking the infant out of the water.
“I can’t believe you tried to run back with the baby. You both could have drowned,” an officer said while escorting Castro into a vehicle. The child was placed in the care of authorities.
The five undocumented immigrants found in the vehicle were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol.
Castro faces charges of human smuggling and endangering a child.
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