Joe Giudice leaves US for Italy amid deportation appeal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Joe Giudice is en route to Italy.
Following his request to be released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" spouse has left the United States for his native Italy while appealing a deportation order against him, Fox News has confirmed.
Family attorney James J. Leonard Jr. told Fox News in a statement on Friday: "Our system of justice has failed this family. These draconian immigration laws are destroying families, and the time for serious immigration reform is here. It’s absolutely gut-wrenching what is happening. Our country is so much better than this."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TERESA GIUDICE SAYS HUSBAND JOE GIUDICE’S DEPORTATION RULING IS TO ‘MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF US’
Teresa and Joe Giudice enter federal court in Newark, N.J., for an appearance on federal conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud charges in 2014. (AP File Photo)
Joe shares four daughters -- Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10 -- with his wife, "Real Housewives" veteran Teresa.
Leonard told People magazine that the 47-year-old spoke to his wife and eldest daughter "from the plane and he is extremely happy to be released, more than words can describe."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He continued: “We are still fighting and it is his desire to return home to the United States to be reunited with his family.”
On Friday, Teresa shared a photo on Instagram of the Statue of Liberty crying, captioning the picture with praying emojis.
JOE GIUDICE AND FAMILY 'EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED' AFTER DEPORTATION APPEAL DENIED
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Earlier this month, Leonard confirmed with Fox News that Joe Giudice's petition, which he filed on Sept. 24, had been granted but declined to comment further.
According to Page Six, Leonard said in the filing that his client “wishes to be released so that [he] can begin working and contributing financially to his wife and four young children.”
Joe and Teresa Giudice pleaded guilty in 2014 to three counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Joe also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to file a tax return.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Teresa was sentenced in October 2014 to 15 months in prison and was released in December 2015. Joe has been held by immigration officials since he completed his 41-month prison term this past March. A judge ruled in October 2018 that he would be deported to his native Italy upon completion of his prison sentence.
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Joe has said he came to the U.S. as an infant and wasn't aware he wasn't an American citizen.
Fox News' Sasha Savitsky and The Associated Press contributed to this report