Romney maintains his hard line on illegal immigration
10/03/2011 7:58 PM

By Shira Schoenberg , Globe Correspondent

SALEM, N.H. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney continued to take a hard line on illegal immigration tonight, illustrating the central role the topic has taken in the presidential race.

In response to questions from several voters at the Derry-Salem Elks Club, the former Massachusetts governor stressed the need to build a border fence, crack down on employers of illegal immigrants, use English immersion in schools, and deny welfare benefits to illegal immigrants.

“Illegal immigration burdens us and is a threat to legal immigration,â€