A Canadian citizen is facing charges and potential deportation after an alleged assault on a teenager on a New Jersey boardwalk, with the confrontation reportedly stemming from the victim's "MAGA clothing."
Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, was taken into custody days after the incident, which occurred during Fourth of July celebrations. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Tracey, described as having colorful hair, striking the teenager on the shoulder and then the face on the Jersey Shore boardwalk. The teenager, whose age was not specified in court documents, did not sustain serious injuries, according to police.
Tracey turned herself in to authorities after investigators reviewed surveillance footage and issued a warrant for her arrest. She was subsequently transferred to Delaney Hall, an immigration facility in New Jersey. Her husband, Matthew Geroni, told the Daily Mail that she has been held in "horrible" conditions at the facility and is "very upset."
Geroni disputed the police account of the confrontation, claiming that the teenager and her companions provoked Tracey. He stated that the group was looking for altercations and that the teens were wearing merchandise supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which he described as clashing with his wife's "punk" attire. Geroni also alleged that police misrepresented the circumstances of Tracey's arrest, stating she was permitted to leave the scene before a warrant was issued.
Tracey faces charges including endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction. She is expected to be deported to Canada. Geroni has expressed distress over his wife's detainment and has attempted to raise funds for her legal defense, though a GoFundMe page was reportedly removed due to platform policies against fundraising for those accused of crimes.
Geroni, who has publicly criticized political figures on social media, suggested that former President Donald Trump's rhetoric has contributed to societal hostility. He has also shared posts from his wife's musical pursuits, noting she performs in a punk rock band.