In a dramatic incident near the Texas-Mexico border, a woman, Brenda Castro, was discovered with five undocumented immigrants in her vehicle. As she attempted to evade law enforcement, she made a desperate bid for freedom by swimming across the Rio Grande with an infant, officials reported.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) identified Castro, a U.S. citizen, as a passenger in a Ford Explorer. Her husband, also an American citizen, was driving the vehicle on December 19 in Laredo, a city known for its proximity to the border. When DPS troopers attempted to pull them over, the driver refused to comply, leading to a tense pursuit.

Dashcam footage provided by DPS captured the Ford Explorer speeding through both residential and rural areas, escalating the situation into a high-speed chase. The pursuit took a dramatic turn when Castro exited the vehicle, clutching an infant, and headed toward the river.

In a desperate attempt to evade capture, Castro leaped into the Rio Grande, aiming to reach Mexican soil, the DPS noted. This risky maneuver unfolded amidst allegations of her involvement in smuggling undocumented immigrants, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative.

Brenda Castro jumped into the Rio Grande with an infant in an attempt to flee to Mexico during a high-speed chase with authorities while smuggling illegal immigrants, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.  (Getty Images; Texas Department of Public Safety)

Castro’s husband swam across and made it to Mexico, a DPS spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

State and local law authorities at the scene directed Castro to come back to the U.S. side of the border, and she was arrested. 

Bodycam footage shows Brenda Castro and an infant in the Rio Grande on the U.S.-Mexico border.  (Texas Department of Public Safety)

While in the river, authorities were heard telling Castro in Spanish to get back to dry land with the child. A law enforcement officer was then seen taking the child out of the water.

“I can’t believe you tried to run back with the baby. You both could have drowned,” a law enforcement officer told Castro while escorting her into a vehicle upon her arrest.

The child was placed under the care of authorities. 

Authorities said they found five illegal immigrants in Castro’s vehicle and turned them over to the U.S. Border Patrol. 

The Rio Grande is seen from Laredo, Texas, U.S., September 19, 2020. Picture taken Sept. 19, 2020. (REUTERS/Veronica G. Cardenas)

Castro is charged with human smuggling and endangering a child.