Cruz Offers to Speak at Texas A&M International Graduation

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has approached Texas A&M International University about speaking at the Laredo college's spring commencement, the A&M System confirmed Thursday. 

The speech by the Republican presidential candidate hasn't been finalized, but Texas A&M International said in an emailed statement that the school "would be happy to welcome" Cruz to campus. 

Cruz's Senate office didn't immediately return a request for comment. 

Final plans are expected to be announced next week. If Cruz is booked, the school would combine its usual three graduation ceremonies into one event on May 22. 

The possibility of the speech was first reported by The Bridge, the university's student newspaper. The school has about 7,500 students. 

The speech would give Cruz another chance to visit the Texas-Mexico border. Cruz has been criticized for making relatively few trips there since he was elected a U.S. senator in 2012. During that same time, John Cornyn, the state's senior U.S. senator, has visited the border 13 times.

Disclosure: The Texas A&M University System is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.