'RHONJ' star Joe Giudice granted deportation delay as his family seeks Trump's help

USA TODAY

Joe Giduice of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" fame got a touch of good news by being granted a temporary deportation delay in federal court.

His immigration lawyers last week filed for a stay, a week after the Board of Immigration Appeals denied his appeal.

His wife, Teresa Giudice, and his daughters Mia and Gilania have been asking President Trump through social media to spare his deportation to Italy.

In 2014, Joe and Teresa pleaded guilty to bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Joe Giudice also pleaded guilty to failure to pay about $200,000 in income taxes.

More 'Real Housewives':Joe Giudice's daughter asks President Trump to stop father's deportation

Prison time

Joe Giudice was granted a temporary deportation delay in federal court.

Terersa Giudice, 46, served 11 months in prison and was released in 2015.

Joe Giudice, 46, served a 41-month prison term.

In October 2018, an immigration court ruled that Joe would be deported to Italy after completing his federal sentence. The government can deport anyone who isn't a U.S. citizen if they commit a crime. Giudice was brought from Italy to the United States by his parents when he was 1, and he never became a U.S. citizen.

Teresa has said she'll stay in the United States with their four children if her husband is deported.

Teresa's controversial petition

The Giudice family is hoping that Trump will stop Joe's deportation.

Last week, his 14-year-old daughter Milania posted a throwback photo of herself and her father and tagged Trump in the Instagram post. She wrote, "We will never stop fighting for you daddy. It’s not the same without you. I miss you terribly. I wouldn’t be the person I am today with out you. I wouldn’t know how to stay strong. I need you home daddy."

His oldest daughter, Gia, 18, also asked the president on Instagram to spare her father, who "committed a minor crime to support his family."

The family has started a Change.org petition, gathering signatures to send to President Trump to "STOP the deportation of Joe Giudice." More than 72,000 signatures have been gathered so far.

Teresa posted a link to the petition on her Instagram account, writing, "Please help our family by signing this petition, the bond & closeness I have with my father I hope & pray my girls have with Joe. Love to you all."

Some took issue on social media with the notion of sparing Joe's deportation when other immigrant families are being torn apart under current policies.

"Where was this energy for the Mexican families that trump (who you supported) separated? Not only your family matters, Teresa,” wrote one person.

Teresa's response was either a slapback or missing punctuation. She said: "I never said that all families matter" with a heart emoji.

Family attorney James J. Leonard Jr. told northjersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, that she was emphasizing "all families matter."

"That’s just Teresa writing the way she talks," he said. "She doesn’t do punctuation."

Teresa Giudice attends the launch of MASK skincare.

Hours after Joe's temporary delay in his deportation order, Teresa attended the MASK skincare launch, posing for red carpet photos in New York City last week.

She also mugged for photos with MTV star Farrah Abraham and "90 Day Fiancé" star Ashley Martson.

Farrah Abraham, Teresa Giudice and Ashley Martson attend the MASK launch party in New York.

Contributing: Chris Jordan, North Jersey Record

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