‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ star Teresa Giudice’s husband, Joe, to be deported to Italy
Giudice, 46, will be deported to Italy when he is released in 2019.
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice's husband, Joe, will return to his native Italy following his stint in prison, reports say.
Giudice, 46, will be deported to Italy when he is released in 2019, a judge ruled in immigration court on Wednesday morning, according to People. Giudice reportedly has 30 days to appeal the immigration order.
"I find you deportable and ineligible for any kind of relief," a judge told Giudice in court on Wednesday, RadarOnline reports. "Mr. Giudice, no matter how this turns out, I wish you the best. I decided this case as a matter of law."
Giudice is currently serving a 41-month prison term at FCI Allenwood in Pennsylvania, about three hours outside of Philadelphia, in connection with fraud charges dating back to 2013. He previously served time at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, but was transferred after he said he could not complete an alcohol abuse program at the prison. His sentence began in March 2016 and he is set for release in August 2019, the Daily Mail reports. Real Housewives star Teresa, meanwhile, served an 11-month sentence for the same conviction, was released back in Dec. 2015.
News of Giudice's potential deportation dates back to June this year, when attorney James J. Leonard Jr. told People that the reality star's immigration status was under scrutiny. As Leonard said, Giudice has an "immigration counsel who are and have been working aggressively on his behalf."
Teresa, 46, remained mum about her husband's deportation earlier this year on a Real Housewives reunion program. As she said in January, she is likely to move to Italy with her husband.
"I mean, Italy's a beautiful place to live," Teresa said. "I wouldn't mind, you know, I'm just saying. Listen, whatever God has planned for me, that's what is going to happen. I'll embrace it the best I can."
At his previous hearing last month, RadarOnline reports, Giudice "begged the judge to let him stay in the U.S.," as he and wife Teresa are parents to four children — Audriana, 9, Milania, 12, Gabriella, 14, and Gia, 17.
"I've been here my whole life," Giudice reportedly said. "I wouldn't know what to do in any other country. I want to stay here."