Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania and More ‘RHONJ’ Stars Reveal How Teresa Giudice Is Coping With Joe Giudice in ICE Custody

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Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania and More 'RHONJ' Stars Reveal How Teresa Giudice Is Coping With Joe Giudice in ICE Custody

Playing the waiting game. Teresa and Joe Giudice are going through the motions as they await a decision on his deportation case, according to their Real Housewives of New Jersey costars. Dolores Catania told Us Weekly exclusively that while her longtime friend finds comfort in laughter, Teresa doesn’t need her inner circle bringing her and her daughters dinner every night. “Teresa, she doesn't need that, she needs, she likes her friends to make her laugh,” Dolores told Us at the 13th annual Health Corps Gala, which was cohosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz on April 16. “And that's how they get through their stuff.” A judge ruled in October 2018 that Joe was set to be deported to his native Italy following his release from prison. The next month, the former construction business owner, who was sentenced to 41 months behind bars for tax fraud, filed an appeal. Upon his March release, Joe was immediately transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where he is expected to stay until his appeal is approved or overruled. According to Jennifer Aydin, the spouses are able to talk on the phone on a daily basis while Joe remains in ICE custody. “He calls her. They can, they text each other, and she can text him and he calls her like ten times a day. He calls her all day every day,” Jennifer told Us at the Health Corps Gala. “They talk, you know they talk about the kids, he's bored. He's bored in there and he's calling her and she's, you know she misses him but she's like wow, a lot of phone calls.” Teresa and Joe, who tied the knot in 1999, share four daughters: Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana. While the family is holding out hope that Joe will be able to stay in America, Teresa previously admitted that she would get a divorce if he was indeed deported. “Gia’s going to college next year; I haven’t spoken to Milania or Audriana about it, we haven’t gotten there yet; and Gabriella already voiced her opinion to me,” the reality star told Andy Cohen at the RHONJ reunion in March. “She was like, ‘That would be so hard for me, mommy.’ She doesn’t speak the language. She’s like, ‘That would kill me even more.’” Teresa added that she has no interest in a long-distance relationship. “I want somebody with me every day. I know exactly what happens,” she explained at the time. “You know, I’m sure he’ll be with other women. It happens. We do the long-distance thing, it’s not going to work. I’d be like, ‘Bye bye.’” Scroll through for more updates on Teresa and Joe:

Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images

Melissa Gorga, Dolores Catania and More 'RHONJ' Stars Reveal How Teresa Giudice Is Coping With Joe Giudice in ICE Custody

Playing the waiting game. Teresa and Joe Giudice are going through the motions as they await a decision on his deportation case, according to their Real Housewives of New Jersey costars. Dolores Catania told Us Weekly exclusively that while her longtime friend finds comfort in laughter, Teresa doesn’t need her inner circle bringing her and her daughters dinner every night. “Teresa, she doesn't need that, she needs, she likes her friends to make her laugh,” Dolores told Us at the 13th annual Health Corps Gala, which was cohosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz on April 16. “And that's how they get through their stuff.” A judge ruled in October 2018 that Joe was set to be deported to his native Italy following his release from prison. The next month, the former construction business owner, who was sentenced to 41 months behind bars for tax fraud, filed an appeal. Upon his March release, Joe was immediately transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, where he is expected to stay until his appeal is approved or overruled. According to Jennifer Aydin, the spouses are able to talk on the phone on a daily basis while Joe remains in ICE custody. “He calls her. They can, they text each other, and she can text him and he calls her like ten times a day. He calls her all day every day,” Jennifer told Us at the Health Corps Gala. “They talk, you know they talk about the kids, he's bored. He's bored in there and he's calling her and she's, you know she misses him but she's like wow, a lot of phone calls.” Teresa and Joe, who tied the knot in 1999, share four daughters: Gia, Gabriella, Milania and Audriana. While the family is holding out hope that Joe will be able to stay in America, Teresa previously admitted that she would get a divorce if he was indeed deported. “Gia’s going to college next year; I haven’t spoken to Milania or Audriana about it, we haven’t gotten there yet; and Gabriella already voiced her opinion to me,” the reality star told Andy Cohen at the RHONJ reunion in March. “She was like, ‘That would be so hard for me, mommy.’ She doesn’t speak the language. She’s like, ‘That would kill me even more.’” Teresa added that she has no interest in a long-distance relationship. “I want somebody with me every day. I know exactly what happens,” she explained at the time. “You know, I’m sure he’ll be with other women. It happens. We do the long-distance thing, it’s not going to work. I’d be like, ‘Bye bye.’” Scroll through for more updates on Teresa and Joe:

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Melissa Gorga

“She's doing good. She's doing good. Everybody's just like crossing their fingers and holding on and just waiting for the final decision,” Melissa told Us at Health Corps 13th Annual Gala on April 16. “But everyone's hopes are high and we just … that's all we can do.” 

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Jennifer Aydin

“Teresa is just going through the motions right now. She doesn't really want to foreshadow anything pro or con,” Jennifer told Us at the Health Corps Gala. “She doesn't want to give any bad thoughts energy, and then she doesn't want to get her hopes up with positive thoughts. So she's kind of just going through the motions.”

Jennifer added that Teresa’s four daughters “are doing as well as can be expected.” 

“It’s almost like they're in the home stretch. But it's obviously a very critical time and they're just keeping their hopes up.” 

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Dolores Catania

Dolores told Us that Teresa detaching herself from the situation is a “survival mechanism.”

“She's always been that person, as you know, I've known her since I was sixteen years old. Well, there's people in my life, I used to be the person that could detach myself from situations and you know … that's how I was,” she explained at the Health Corps Gala. “She's been in the thick of it for a long time now. I hope for them that there's closure, either way, in the next few months.” 

The former corrections officer also noted that Teresa’s children are “upset” about the situation. “They expected their dad to come home after a sentence, after he served his time.” 

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Joe Gorga

“It’s very, very hard. You see, she puts up a good, strong front — she has to,” Teresa’s brother told Us on March 18. “She has to raise her children by herself, so she has to be strong. She can’t be weak. You know, you see this tough girl [on TV] all the time, but she’s weak.”

The Gorga Guide to Success author also offered an explanation for why Teresa is often spotted out amid the legal drama. “She’s got to keep herself busy,” he said. “She’s constantly going out because when she’s home, she has no one to hold. No one’s around. [Her] kids, they’re in their activities and they want to be with their friends. You know, she’s a mess.”

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Teresa and Joe Giudice

While Teresa has stayed mum on the situation, the couple’s  attorney, James Leonard, released a statement to Us in March: “[Joe’s] lawyers and his family are hopeful that justice will prevail and Mr. Giudice will return home to his wife and four daughters who love him and miss him.”