The smuggler was not afraid that they would run away at all because the smuggler did not take them to the United States directly but to Mexico first.
Either way, as long as they got on the smuggler’s boat, they were just like the slaves who were sold by the Europeans back then, and their life and death were in the individual’s hands.
Those who were obedient could live until the boat docked, whereas those who were disobedient would have rocks tied to their feet directly before they were thrown