A Canadian woman living illegally in the United States was ordered deported Tuesday following an assault on a teenager during a confrontation on a New Jersey boardwalk over the Fourth of July weekend. Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple assault in connection with the incident, which involved slapping a girl wearing a USA 250 tank top.
The altercation occurred July 3 at the Point Pleasant boardwalk, where Tracey reportedly confronted a group of four teenagers before striking one in the face. Police confirmed the assault was captured on video. Tracey had been residing in Asbury Park with her husband, Matt Geroni, for several years after overstaying her visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Tracey appeared by phone from an ICE facility in Texas for her sentencing hearing in Toms River. Judge Guy P. Ryan accepted a plea deal under which Tracey received a one-day jail sentence, credited as time served for her previous incarceration in Ocean County. In addition to the jail time, the judge ordered her deportation to Canada, with an anticipated ban on reentry described as lasting “for a very long time.”
Defense attorney Francis Hodgson characterized Tracey as a “productive member of society” who had maintained steady employment and taken responsibility for her actions. Hodgson described the incident as “unfortunate” and urged the court to view the sentence as consistent with similar summer boardwalk cases.
The prosecution indicated that the victim’s family supported the plea agreement. During the hearing, Judge Ryan read an impact statement from the parents, identified only by their initials M.H., who expressed gratitude that the incident was documented on camera. The family—described as proud immigrants—emphasized their patriotism and their hope for justice. Ryan noted their appreciation for the agencies involved in handling the case.
Tracey had initially faced several charges, including endangering the welfare of a child, harassment, and obstruction. She was transferred from the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark to an ICE processing facility in Laredo, Texas. Details regarding her repatriation to Canada and the duration of her U.S. reentry ban remain unclear.
Matt Geroni, Tracey’s husband and a social media personality, did not attend the hearing. In prior communications, he described conditions at Delaney Hall as “horrible” and urged followers on TikTok to assist in securing Tracey’s release, even if it meant deportation.