This week, two reality stars were hit hard by Federal Judge Esther Salas when they were sentenced in their fraud case. Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, 42, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Her husband “Juicy” Joe, also 42, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, loan application fraud, and bankruptcy fraud. Joe was indicted with the additional counts of not filing tax returns from 2004 through 2008. The number of charges — 39 counts — meant the two were facing more than 50 years in prison. But Joe’s problems of course are … “juicier.” Because Joe was born in Italy and never became a U.S. citizen, he will face deportation proceedings after he serves his sentence. “Wuddyatalkin about?
Anyone who is not a U.S. citizen is subject to removal. Juicy Joe never got around to taking that citizenship test. With a recent history of DUI’s he probably was told how those DUIs would be used against him for discretion purposes and correctly advised to Fuhgeddaboutit. Only, now he may be heading back to the homeland of Italia.
Under the immigration laws of the U.S., Joe has been convicted of an “aggravated felony.” This type of conviction is the granddaddy of all the immigration type of problems to have. Capiche? It basically makes a person ineligible for almost all types of deportation relief. Most persons with aggravated felonies only can seek protection if they are going to be persecuted or tortured upon return to their home country. My guess is this won’t work for Juicy, unless he messed with the wrong Boss back home.
There is only one other option for Joe to be able to stay here in his New Jersey castle with his Italian-American princess. Joe may be able to re-adjust his status and become a permanent resident again based on his marriage to his United States citizen spouse Teresa. However, he will need to seek a 212(h) waiver and he is only eligible for one if he didn’t originally enter the U.S. as a permanent resident. Manache! If he is, then he will have to prove to an Immigration Judge that his wife and his four American daughters will suffer an extreme hardship if he is removed from the United States which has to be above the normal expectations of hardship from deportation. As always Joe – “In Bocca al Lupo!”
