A Canadian woman charged after an alleged assault involving a teenage girl on a New Jersey boardwalk is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the agency alleging she overstayed her visa after entering the United States two years ago.
Kaitlyn E. Tracey, 33, was arrested after police said she confronted a group of four teenage girls on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk on July 3.
According to the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Tracey allegedly approached the group while recording on her cellphone and yelled at two girls wearing “patriotic coloured” sweatpants, which according to NJ.com, displayed the words “Trump” and “ICE.” Police allege she then struck one of the girls with an open hand before leaving the area.
Investigators later identified Tracey through surveillance video and charged her with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and obstruction. Police said the juvenile was not injured.
In announcing the charges, Point Pleasant Beach police thanked several agencies that assisted with the investigation, including the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Asbury Park Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s intelligence team and Toronto Police Service’s 11 Division.
Toronto police told CTVNews.ca that they are looking into the matter to determine what role TPS played, but said any role they played was likely a minor one. They are yet to send a full response.
The case has since drawn online attention after Tracey’s husband, Matthew Geroni, posted videos on TikTok saying his wife had been transferred to the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark following her release from local custody.
In an emailed statement to CTVNews.ca, an ICE spokesperson alleged Tracey entered the United States on April 14, 2024, on a visa that expired on Sept. 6, 2024, and remained in the country after it expired.
The agency said Tracey was transferred into ICE custody after her arrest and will remain detained while immigration proceedings continue.
Tracey is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 4, according to court records.
