Why did santa Anna let some people leave the Alamo?

Santa Anna allowed some individuals to leave the Alamo as part of a strategy to demonstrate his clemency and to spread fear among the Texian forces. By permitting some to escape, he aimed to send a message that resistance was futile, hoping to intimidate others into surrendering. This tactic was also intended to bolster his reputation as a merciful leader, despite the brutal fate that awaited many defenders of the Alamo.