A Canadian woman who admitted to slapping a teenager during a confrontation over pro-Trump clothing at the Jersey Shore has been ordered to be deported from the United States after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge.Kaitlyn Tracey, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of simple assault in connection with the July 3 incident on the boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.An immigration judge in Texas subsequently ordered her deportation to Canada after US authorities said she had overstayed her visa, the New York Post reported.Tracey was sentenced to one day in jail but received credit for time already served following her detention in Ocean County.
Confrontation over Trump and ICE clothing
According to police, Tracey approached a group of teenagers on the boardwalk after noticing clothing with pro-Trump political messaging.Investigators said an argument followed before she struck one teenage girl with an open hand, hitting her once on the body and once on the face. The incident was captured on surveillance video, police said.She was initially charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment and obstruction. The assault charge was later resolved through her guilty plea.
Visa overstay led to immigration action
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Tracey entered the US in April 2024 on a temporary visa that expired in September the same year and remained in the country unlawfully after it lapsed.A DHS spokesperson said Tracey “received full due process” before being ordered removed by an immigration judge and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would return her to Canada “as soon as possible.”
Husband sought support after ICE detention
Following her arrest, Tracey was transferred to ICE custody after an immigration detainer was lodged against her.Her husband, an American citizen, had appealed publicly for support, saying the couple had been married for more than three years and that he hoped she would be released, even if it meant returning to Canada.An online fundraiser launched to help cover Tracey’s legal expenses reportedly raised less than half of its stated goal.A separate fundraising campaign was removed by GoFundMe after the platform said it violated policies related to fundraising for people accused of violent crimes.During sentencing, the judge read portions of a victim impact statement from the teenager’s family, noting that they were grateful the incident had been captured on camera and looked forward to the case being resolved.The court indicated that Tracey’s removal from the US is expected to prevent her return for a prolonged period.
