Kaitlyn Tracey has been ordered to be deported after she pleaded guilty to slapping a teenager wearing MAGA clothing on a New Jersey boardwalk. The attack occurred during Fourth of July celebrations on July 3.
The 33-year-old Canadian woman was in the United States illegally because she had overstayed her visa. She confronted a group of teenagers wearing "patriotic colored" clothes emblazoned with "Trump" and "ICE" logos.
Footage showed Tracey striking the girl once on the shoulder. She then squared up and delivered another blow across the face of the teenager, who stood in stunned silence.
The Department of Homeland Security dubbed Tracey the "Maple Leaf Menace" in a post on X. Investigators reviewed a surveillance clip and issued a warrant for her arrest.
Tracey turned herself in days later and was held in the Ocean County jail. She was then transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody at the agency's notorious Delaney Hall detention facility, and later to an ICE processing center in Laredo, Texas.
Guilty plea in Texas
Tracey attended a hearing in Texas by phone on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault. Judge Guy P Ryan ordered her to be deported.
Prosecutors dropped her more serious charges of endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and obstruction in exchange for the guilty plea. She was sentenced to one day in jail but granted time served for the days she spent in Ocean County.
Her lawyer, Francis Hodgson, attempted to paint her in a positive light during the hearing. He told the judge she maintained employment and was a productive member of society while in the country.
"She met her husband and didn't leave, but while she was [here], she maintained employment and was a productive member of society," Hodgson said. He described the attack as "unfortunate" and said Tracey took responsibility.
Hodgson called the judgment reasonable. He said it is "consistent with other similar-type matters that happen every day during the summer on this boardwalk."
Family of the victim reacts
Prosecutors said the family of the victim agreed with the plea deal. The teenager was identified only by the initials MH because of her age, which was redacted from court documents.
Judge Ryan read an impact statement from the family during the hearing. The parents said they were thankful for cameras and cell phones documenting the incident.
"The parents recite that, 'Thank goodness for cameras and cell phones to have documented this incident,'" the judge said. The victim and her family "look forward to justice being served, and they thank all the agencies involved," he added.
The judge said he expects Tracey to be prohibited from returning to the United States for "a very long time." It remains unclear exactly when she will be deported back to Canada.
Husband defends the assault
Matthew Geroni, Tracey's 42-year-old husband, provided a different account of the incident to the Daily Mail last month. He claimed the teenagers "provoked" his wife, "pushed and shoved" her, and caused mayhem on the Jersey Shore boardwalk.
Geroni said the teenagers provoked many people along the boardwalk. He claimed they singled out Tracey because she was wearing "punk" clothing that clashed with their MAGA attire, saying, "They were wearing ICE merch."
He said the police at the scene let Tracey leave and called the incident a "nothing-burger." He claimed the surveillance clip that led to her arrest warrant was taken "out of context."
Geroni said Tracey was almost freed from the Ocean County jail. He said she was hit with an immigration detainer at the last minute.
Fundraising efforts shut down
Geroni set up a GoFundMe page to pay for Tracey's legal defense, but the website took it down. GoFundMe policies dictate that fundraisers are not allowed if they raise money for someone accused of crimes.
He told the Daily Mail the fundraiser was shut down because "MAGA people" reported it. A newer fundraiser on GiveSendGo was organized in mid-July with a goal of $10,000, but failed to raise even half the funds requested.
The GiveSendGo page claimed the original campaign was removed and donations refunded "after a coordinated mass-reporting campaign by a Facebook group targeted the fundraiser." The new campaign had raised just $4,857 as of Wednesday evening.
Social media and political blame
Geroni often shares social media posts attacking Republicans. He shared a video on TikTok wishing cancer on President Trump's entire family, including his youngest grandchildren.
He has also shared posts wishing for Mitch McConnell to die following the senator's hospitalization. Geroni said he believes Trump is partially to blame for the hostility.
"Trump is emboldening these people. They're proud of their hate, not love," he said. When asked how he squares that stance with his posts about McConnell, Geroni said it was "not the same," and answered, "What are we even talking about here bro?"
Geroni said he and his wife love their lives in Ocean Beach. However, he said he would move to Canada if needed, adding, "I would do anything to be with my wife."
