Teresa Giudice fears husband Joe 'is going to miss out on so much' with his daughters if he gets deported to Italy
After serving a collective 52 months in prison, Teresa and Joe Guidice are still battling to keep their family together.
The couple, both 47, plead guilty to 41 counts of fraud in 2014, and since his release earlier this year the patriarch has been held by I.C.E as he fights deportation back to Italy.
In a Bravo Insider Video posted Wednesday the Real Housewives of New Jersey star opened up about the struggle to keep her husband in the country and the family's painful reality.
Painful reality: Teresa Guidice has opened up about the struggle to keep her husband in the country and the family's painful reality, in a Bravo Insider Video posted Wednesday (pictured in 2018)
The businessman was born in Italy and was brought by his parents to New Jersey when he was just a year old. The reality TV stars, who have known each other since childhood and married in 1999, share four daughters: Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10.
The NY Times best seller shared her fears if Joe were to be deported.
'If he gets deported, he'll never be able to go to their graduation[s], celebrate their birthdays, anything,' she said.
Share this article
'He's going to be missing out on so much. The girls adore their father and no child should have to go through what my daughters are going through,' Teresa continued. 'They should have their daddy here.'
Though the family is doing everything they can to fight the immigration order Teresa still fears the pain her children would feel if their father is sent back to Italy.
Behind bars: The couple, both 47, plead guilty to 41 counts of fraud in 2014, and since the patriarch has been fighting to stay in the U.S. rather than returning to his native Italy (pictured in 2016)
'When you're a mom and your children are hurting, it just kills you so much,' Teresa noted in the video. 'If I could take any of this pain away from them, I wish I could.'
The couple was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud back in 2013. Additionally, Joe was charged with failure to file tax returns from 2004-2008, when he alleged a $1 million income.
After pleading guilty in 2014 the Teresa and Joe were sentenced to 15 and 41 months in prison, respectively, though Teresa only served 11. Since his release in March of this year Joe has been held in an immigrant detention center in Pennsylvania.
In October 2018 a judge ordered Joe to be deported once he completed his sentence, he lost an appeal in April 2019 but was granted approval to remain in the U.S. as he continues to fight the order.
Staying in Jersey: The mother of four previously told Andy Cohen on the RHONJ season 9 reunion that should Joe be deported, she would not follow him to Italy for the sake of her daughters
The mother of four previously told Andy Cohen on the RHONJ season 9 reunion that should Joe be deported, she would not follow him to Italy.
'I hope that's not a decision I have to make, but to pick up my children and just move to another country, I don't think that would be good for my children,' she said. 'So, I mean, so, no, I probably wouldn't.'
Fellow RHONJ cast members gave perspective on the situation and how the family is handling it.
On Teresa's decision to not go to Italy Jennifer Aydin said '[Teresa] has to do what works for her. ... she is doing everything she can to be a good mom and I don't think the honor or integrity of her marriage goes out the window.'
Another battle: In October 2018 a judge ordered Joe to be deported once he completed his sentence, he lost an appeal in April 2019 but was granted approval to remain in the U.S. as he continues to fight the order (pictured in 2014)
'Joe may be deported from this country forever,' Dolores Cantania said. 'That is so devastating'
Co-star Margaret Josephs said the situation 'boggles' her mind, but commended Teresa for her strength. She said 'I feel sorry for her. Teresa puts on a smile everyday for her family and for her daughters.'
The four daughters have taken it upon themselves to publicly fight for their father to remain in the U.S. through online petitions and pleading with the White House to pardon Joe, though a source said the pardon is not on the White House's radar.
In an online petition created by their eldest daughter Gia she said 'My father is not a danger to society. He knows nothing of Italian culture, laws, societal norms, he has no immediate family and will not be able to secure work in this foreign land.'
Fighting for dad: In October 2018 a judge ordered Joe to be deported once he completed his sentence, he lost an appeal in April 2019 but was granted approval to remain in the U.S. as he continues to fight the order
