The Willacy County Regional Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas recently honored men and women for their academic achievements.

The facility teams up with the Mexican Consulate to give incarcerated men and women the opportunity to earn the Mexican equivalent of a GED. The program is called INEA or Instituto Nacional Para la Educación de los Adultos.

The facility held a graduation ceremony and asked some of the graduates how the INEA program will help them in their lives. One graduate got real emotional as she thought about how what she’s learned will make life better for her when she’s released.

“This is a great opportunity because it’ll allow me to find better work in Mexico, to be able to give my daughter a better life. I will be with her real soon. Thank you to each one of you for taking the time to be here to give us these [diplomas].” Floresthela Martinez Perales

 

“I believe, as the warden said, it’s just a tool that I can get to keep for myself; that cannot be taken away from me. And hopefully someday, I can show it to somebody and say, ‘Look, I did this while I was incarcerated.” Jose Garza Villanueva

“More than anything, [this program helps me] improve as a person and try to focus on positive things. And because of this, it helps me in my life and in my employment.” Anselmo Garza-Guevara