A Canadian citizen who overstayed her visa and was in the U.S. illegally has been ordered deported by a judge after she was captured on video slapping a teenager wearing a MAGA hat. Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, was ordered deported to Canada on Tuesday following a hearing in Texas where she appeared by phone from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center.
Tracey pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor simple assault. Prosecutors dropped more serious charges, including child endangerment, obstruction, and harassment, as part of the plea agreement. She was sentenced to one day in jail, which was satisfied by the time she had already spent in custody since her arrest.
The incident occurred on July 3 on a Jersey Shore boardwalk during Fourth of July celebrations. Surveillance footage and witness accounts showed Tracey confronting a group of teenagers wearing patriotic attire, including clothing reportedly emblazoned with "Trump" and "ICE." The confrontation escalated when Tracey slapped one of the teenagers on the shoulder before delivering another blow to the girl's face.
After the video of the assault circulated, Tracey turned herself in to authorities. She was initially held at Delaney Hall, an ICE detention facility in New Jersey, described by her husband, Matthew Geroni, 42, as having "horrible" conditions. She was later transferred to the ICE processing center in Laredo, Texas, for her hearing.
Tracey's attorney argued that she had met her husband, stayed in the U.S., maintained employment, and was a productive member of society. He described the attack as "unfortunate" and noted that his client took responsibility for her actions. The attorney also suggested that the incident was consistent with other altercations that occur on boardwalks during the summer.
The victim's family, identified only by the initials MH, was reportedly satisfied with the plea deal. The judge read an impact statement from the family, who expressed gratitude for the documentation of the incident through cameras and cell phones. The family stated they look forward to justice being served and thanked the involved agencies.
Tracey entered the U.S. on a passport years ago and had overstayed her visa. It remains unclear when she will be deported or for how long she will be prohibited from returning to the U.S., though the judge indicated it would be a significant period.
Geroni offered a different perspective on the events leading up to the assault, claiming the teenagers had provoked Tracey and were causing disturbances on the boardwalk. He alleged that the teens pushed and shoved Tracey and that her "punk" clothing clashed with their MAGA merchandise. Geroni, who has a history of posting critical social media content about Republican politicians, suggested that Donald Trump's rhetoric emboldens such behavior. He stated he would move to Canada with his wife if necessary.
The Department of Homeland Security reportedly dubbed Tracey the "Maple Leaf Menace" in an X post following the incident. IMAGE3