Topeka ? Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has endorsed Mitt Romney for the Republican presidential nomination.

Kobach said Wednesday he believes the former Massachusetts governor has the best record on immigration issues among the field of GOP hopefuls.

He cited Romney’s veto of Massachusetts legislation to allow some illegal immigrants to pay the lower tuition normally reserved for legal residents at state colleges. Kansas enacted such a law in 2004.

Kobach is a former University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who helped write tough immigration laws in Alabama and Arizona. He’s also one of the leading conservative Republicans in Kansas, and his endorsement comes at a time when some GOP conservatives have reservations about Romney.

The Kansas GOP plans to have presidential caucuses March 10.