Police: Man who beat homeless Mexican said 'Trump was right'

Daniel Hernandez Joseph, the consul general of Mexico in Boston, confirmed the victim was a Mexican citizen. He said his government would "take the necessary measures to defend the rights and interests of Mexicans," The Boston Globe reported.

The brothers, Scott Leader and Steve Leader, were being held without bail on charges including assault and indecent exposure. They pleaded not guilty.

Witnesses flagged down a state trooper at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday after they saw the attack and then saw the Leaders walk away laughing, prosecutors said. The victim was treated for a broken nose, serious bruises and other injuries.

Scott Leader told troopers after his arrest, "Donald Trump was right, all these illegals need to be deported," according to a state police report filed in court.

Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, has been heavily criticized over comments in which he described Mexican immigrants as "criminals" and "rapists" and saying he would build a wall between the United States and Mexico to crack down on illegal immigration. He recently said he would deport the millions of people already in the United States illegally, sort them into groups of "good ones" and "bad ones" and then allow those deemed good to re-enter the country.

Asked about the homeless man's beating before a New Hampshire town hall on Wednesday night, he said he hadn't heard about it.

"I think that would be a shame," he said.

Attorneys who appeared with the brothers for their arraignment couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Mexican officials said they would follow the investigation "very closely" to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Court records show Scott Leader served a year in prison for a hate crime against a Moroccan coffee shop worker after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the Globe said.

The Associated Press