Romney, who may run for president in 2008, supports a plan that has state police detain illegal immigrants. Soon after legislators confirmed the plan in December, however, news broke that the governor had for years employed a landscaping firm that used undocumented workers.

In the words of the Boston Globe, the news came at “a sensitive time for the governor.?EUR??,,????'??

The Globe broke the story that Romney had the company maintain his home in the upscale suburb of Belmont, Mass. According to the paper, the landscaping company’s owner, Ricardo Saenz, “said he met Romney through the Mormon Church and said Romney has used his company’s services for a decade.”

The Globe added that “Saenz said Romney never asked him if his workers are legal immigrants.”

In September, Romney told Fox’s Bill O?EUR??,,????'???Reilly ?EUR??,,????'??that the border must be secured, and affirmed his support for the construction of a fence along the Mexican border,?EUR??,,????'?? the newspaper said.

The paper also ?EUR??,,????'??reported that illegal immigrants had maintained the grounds around Romney’s home in Belmont, as workers for a lawn service company Romney had employed. Romney said after the report that he had dealt only with the owner of the company, Ricardo Saenz, a legal immigrant from Colombia.?EUR??,,????'??

Romney claimed he was unaware illegal workers were employed by the yard service he hired.