Canadian woman arrested for alleged NJ boardwalk slap held in ICE custody
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A newly released video shows the moment a Canadian woman who allegedly overstayed her visa slapped a teenage girl after encountering a group of friends wearing clothing emblazoned with the words “Trump” and “ICE” on a New Jersey boardwalk and was later taken into federal immigration detention.
The Department of Homeland Security shared the video in a post on
“This illegal alien who attacked a teenager has no business in our country,” DHS wrote.
The video shows Tracey approaching the young girl, reaching out and hitting her, and then walking away without stopping.
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A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson later told Fox News Digital that Tracey entered the United States on April 14, 2024, on a visa that was set to expire on September 6, 2024, but remained in the country after it expired.
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A Canadian woman who allegedly overstayed her visa was taken into ICE custody after she allegedly slapped a teenager on a New Jersey boardwalk because of her pro-Trump and ICE attire. (US Department of Homeland Security)
“Her visa expired and she failed to leave,” the spokesperson said, noting that “nearly 70% of ICE arrests” add Tracey’s name to a list of illegal immigrants accused or convicted of a crime.
Following his arrest, the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department facilitated his controlled transfer to ICE custody, where he remained pending immigration proceedings, according to DHS.
A man who identified himself as Tracey’s husband Matthew Geroni on social media has disputed the claims In an interview with NJ.comHe argued that the incident had been blown out of proportion after it received widespread attention online.
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“This whole situation has been blown out of proportion and a person like Kate does not belong in any facility,” Geroni said in a statement to the press. “My wife has never been in trouble in her life. She has never been in a situation like this. This little situation, which didn’t really mean anything when it happened, got so out of control by conservatives on the internet that it ended up in a detention center.”
According to probable cause obtained by Fox News Digital, the victim told police that he and three friends were walking on the sidewalk when Tracey began verbally berating the group for the clothes they were wearing.
The victim’s two friends were wearing patriotic-colored sweatpants that said “Trump” and “ICE” on them, the affidavit says. Investigators allege Tracey then approached the victim and struck him once in the face and once in the body.
Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, was arrested on assault and child endangerment charges after police said she slapped a teenager wearing patriotic and political clothing on the sidewalk in a popular beach town in New Jersey. (Getty: Bloomberg)
Police officers attempted to stop Tracey, but she refused to identify herself and continued toward the sidewalk, according to testimony.
Investigators later identified him through social media and passport information he provided when he entered the United States from Canada in 2024.
Geroni also posted several emotional videos on social media following Tracey’s arrest, saying she was trying to find an immigration attorney and asking for help.
“I need help. I don’t know what to do,” he said in a video. “I need an immigration lawyer… I need my wife.”
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Geroni also said Tracey created a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for her legal defense and immigration expenses before she was removed from the platform. Before the fundraiser was taken down, she said it was organized by friends to help cover Tracey’s legal and immigration-related expenses.
In another video, Geroni claimed the campaign was removed following what he described as a coordinated mass reporting campaign by a “Facebook group of MAGA supporters.”
Kaitlyn Tracey is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody pending deportation proceedings. (Getty Images: DenisTangneyJr)
A GoFundMe spokesperson disputed that claim and told Fox News Digital that the fundraiser was removed for violating the platform’s policies.
“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraising events for the legal defense of violent crimes,” the spokesperson said. “In accordance with this long-standing policy, the fundraiser has been removed from the platform and refunded in full.”
The case also sparked outrage on Capitol Hill after DHS released the security video on Thursday.
“Oh, Canada. He’s coming your way!” Rep. Riley Moore, RW.Va., wrote to X: “Thank you, @SecMullinDHS!”
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Tracey’s attorney, Francis R. Hodgson, declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Court records show Tracey is scheduled to appear in Ocean County Superior Court on Aug. 4.
Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz and Kelsie Cairns contributed to this report.
