A Canadian woman is being held in ICE custody after allegedly slapping a teenage girl wearing "patriotic-coloured" sweatpants, sparking a heated debate online.
The incident occurred on July 3, when 33-year-old Kaitlyn Tracey allegedly confronted a group of teens and slapped one girl who was wearing sweatpants emblazoned with the words "Trump" and "ICE."
Tracey was arrested on Monday and faces charges of endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction.
Her husband, Matthew Geroni, claims the situation has been blown out of proportion and that his wife would "never hurt anybody."
Geroni denies the police version of events, saying Tracey was only charged after public pushback, and dismissed the alleged incident as a "nothingburger."
However, a probable cause affidavit states that Tracey yelled at two people in the group, then slapped the alleged victim across her face and body, before fleeing the scene.
Geroni claims the video of the incident posted online was "totally out of context," but the affidavit also states that the confrontation was caught on surveillance cameras along the boardwalk.
Geroni has received death threats and claims conservative groups have attempted to dox him and his wife.
Tracey is a Canadian citizen who entered the U.S. on April 14, 2024, and has been living with Geroni in Asbury Park.
An ICE spokeswoman stated that Tracey was taken into custody because she overstayed her visa, which expired on September 6, 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Geroni has been unable to visit his wife at the detention centre, but has vowed to continue to defend her and fight for her freedom.
He maintains that his wife is a "wonderful person" who would "never hurt anybody" and that the allegations against her are "not true."
Geroni has deleted or made private all his social media accounts, which included videos mocking Republicans and descriptions of himself as the "Clown of Asbury Park" and the "Jester of the Jersey Shore."
