Ignoring the relatively high concentration of Hispanic people in Marshalltown, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told a crowd of almost 200 there Friday that “you probably don’t have a lot of immigrants legally” in Iowa.

Marshalltown, which is home to a meatpacking plant operated by Swift and Co., was at the epicenter of a nationwide string of immigration raids in December 2006.  The 2000 census measured the percentage of Hispanics in Marshalltown at 12.5%, though that number has likely grown.

“We should not be welcoming” those who cross the border illegally, Romney said in response to a question about illegal immigration.  But, Romney noted, “It’s a labyrinth trying to figure out how to get into this country legally.”

Edgar Perez, who attended Romney’s event with classmates from nearby Excel High School, told Iowa Independent that his family successfully navigated the “labyrinth.”  After crossing the border from Mexico to the United States with his family, he said they have become “legalized citizens.”

He was unconvinced of Romney’s ability to stop immigration, noting that there are too many jobs in the United States for potential immigrants seeking a better life. 

Videos available below the fold.In this video, Perez talks about his family and  community in Marshalltown and Mitt Romney states his case for legal immigration and against illegal  immigration.

Romney was introduced by Barb Livingston, the Marshall County GOP Chairperson.

Livingston cheerfully reminded the audience that Romney had saved the Olympics in Salt Lake City and that he had once worked at Fisher Controls in Marshalltown.  In his speech, Romney reminisced about his consulting days in Iowa.  Talking about the ideal conditions for farming in Iowa he said that, “God must have loved Iowa.”

After the event, Livingston acknowledged the complexities of immigration issues to this reporter, noting hardship not only on families but also the economic impact to businesses that lose workers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in and around Marshalltown.  ICE is an agency of the Department of Homeland Security.

Livingston said that immigration is one of the top issues in Marshall County.

Romney’s focused some of his speech on what he calls “radical jihadism.”  He summarized the Democratic party’s strategy in the War on Terror as one of “defeat and retreat.”

In this video, Mitt Romney talks about how the U.S. has changed after September 11, 2001.

Romney traveled to Waterloo later in the day for more campaigning.