The 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star didn't get to meet her husband before he flew to Italy, but Joe called his wife and their daughter Gia from the plane.

• Oct 12, 2019

AceShowbiz - Teresa Giudice is in grief over her husband Joe's departure to Italy. On Friday, October 11, the businessman left the United States for his home country on a plane while he's waiting for final decision on his deportation appeal.

Teresa has not released an official statement on her husband's trip overseas, but she appeared to make her feelings public about being separated from Joe with her latest Instagram post. The reality TV star has just posted a heartbreaking picture of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes with her hands as if crying. She added praying hand emojis in the caption.

The Giudice family attorney James Leonard reveals Teresa didn't get to meet her husband before he departed the U.S., but they had a chance to speak on the phone. "Teresa is very happy and got very emotional after speaking to Joe today. He called both her and Gia from the plane," the attorney tells TMZ. "It's bittersweet, everyone is happy he is out but no one is happy he is going to Italy. He belongs with his wife and four daughters."

James adds that the couple had met a week before Joe's departure. "I met with Joe face to face a week ago at the prison in Pennsylvania. This is a man who loves his family and is not done fighting by any means. He wants to come home," the lawyer says.

Joe begged for his release from the Pennsylvania ICE detention center in September after being held in ICE custody since his prison release in March. Judges granted his request earlier this month and he's allowed to return to his native Italy amid his deportation appeal.

According to Radar Online, Joe departed the U.S. in the late hours of Friday. "Joe's mother and brother Peter are already in Italy and are waiting for him there," a source tells the site. "He will be heading to Naples shortly, where there is a house waiting for him. His mother has been fixing up a house for him in preparation for his arrival."

As for Teresa, she reportedly has not made decision on the future of their marriage amid his ongoing deportation case. "Teresa hasn’t made any final plans when it comes to the status of her relationship with Joe once he leaves for Italy. Right now she’s focused on her girls and what is best for them," a source tells HollywoodLife.

The source adds that Teresa will "definitely allow her daughters to visit Joe in Italy, but she's not sure if that is a trip she'll be joining them anytime soon." The couple has four daughters, Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10.