Mitt Hires Illegal Immigrants to Put Their Mitts All Over Immigrant-Hating Mitt's Little Pink Manse

Mitt Romney, the Mass. governor who legally immigrated to Massachusetts (from Utah) to run for governor, and who is expected to announce his intention to immigrate to the White House here in DC sometime soon, has become an increasingly vocal critic of illegal immigration. But not so much that he doesn't love the backbreaking work those he'd send packing do on his 2-1/2 acre property.

As Governor Mitt Romney explores a presidential bid, he has grown outspoken in his criticism of illegal immigration. But, for a decade, the governor has used a landscaping company that relies heavily on workers like these, illegal Guatemalan immigrants, to maintain the grounds surrounding his pink Colonial house on Marsh Street in Belmont.

The Globe recently interviewed four current and former employees of Community Lawn Service with a Heart, the tiny Chelsea-based company that provides upkeep of Romney's property. All but one said they were in the United States illegally. (Ed.: Emphasis mine.)

The employees told the Globe that company owner Ricardo Saenz never asked them to provide documents showing their immigration status and knew they were illegal immigrants.

"He never asked for papers," said Rosales, who said he had paid smugglers about $5,000 to take him across the US-Mexican border and settled in Chelsea.

The workers said they were paid in cash at $9 to $10 an hour and sometimes worked 11-hour days.

Romney never inquired about their status, they said.

More here. Paging Linda Chavez.

Power to the Popeil!