Canadian National in U.S. Custody for Alleged Assault on Teen

On Thursday, federal authorities announced that a Canadian woman is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after allegedly slapping a teenage boy during the Fourth of July weekend in New Jersey.

The individual, identified as 33-year-old Caitlin Tracy, reportedly slapped a young male wearing a USA 250 shirt while at Point Pleasant Beach, as noted in a report.

Tracy is currently being held at Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark. Reports mention that federal and local law enforcement have been managing protests outside the facility, which included a demonstration by an Antifa group.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated, “Pending removal from our country,” in a social media update on Thursday. Some responses on social media expressed strong feelings regarding the situation, calling for her removal from the U.S.

Authorities noted that Tracy entered the U.S. on a passport in 2024 but overstayed her visa. In connection with the alleged assault, she faces charges including endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction.

According to reports, the incident unfolded when Tracy approached a group of teenagers walking on the boardwalk. Allegedly, she yelled at them for wearing patriotic clothing before slapping one of the teenage girls.

In a separate matter, Tracy’s husband, Matthew Geroni, was reported to have made troubling comments online about local politicians, following an incident involving the assassination of a public figure. In an online video, he was seen mocking the situation while expressing his views in a dramatic manner.

Additional reports indicated that Geroni posted a video on TikTok prior to his wife’s arrest. This video depicted protesters at the jail where Tracy was being held, portraying the protesters as peaceful while criticizing the police.