Canadian woman Kaitlyn Tracey detained by ICE after boardwalk assault

On July 3, 2024, Canadian citizen Kaitlyn Tracey attacked a teenage girl wearing pro‑Trump sweatpants on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk in New Jersey. A short video showing Tracey striking the teen twice circulated online and led police to charge her with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and obstruction.

Tracey entered the United States on April 14, 2024, on a visa that expired on September 6, 2024. Because she overstayed the visa, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement transferred her to the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark after her arrest. Her husband, American TikTok creator Matthew Geroni, has claimed the case is politically motivated, noting that the video was taken out of context and that they have faced death threats and a removed GoFundMe campaign.

Tracey is scheduled to appear in court in early August while immigration proceedings continue.