Teresa Giudice Has Yet to See Joe Giudice As She Asks Fans to Sign a Petition About His Deportation Case

Since Joe Giudice's release from prison last month when he was moved "to a facility in western Pennsylvania, which houses immigration detainees," he hasn't seen his wife or daughters. Family attorney James J. Leonard Jr. confirmed to PEOPLE that The Real Housewives of New Jersey husband has asked Teresa Giudice and their daughters not to visit him while he is there.

“The facility where Joe is being held does not allow for contact visits. Joe does not want to put Teresa and the girls through the horrific ordeal of driving several hours to visit him and not be able to hug him. They would be restricted to talking on a phone while separated by plexiglass. It’s inhumane that this man can not hug his wife or kiss his daughters," he told the publication in a statement, adding that he has been in contact with his wife. “Joe and Teresa speak several times a day. This has been a grueling fight and they are fighting this together to the very end.”

After filing an appeal in November 2018 in connection with his ongoing immigration and deportation case, Leonard confirmed to The Daily Dish on April 18 that the appeal has been denied.

Now his family is fighting to keep Joe from being deported, including starting a petition, which Teresa shared on Instagram, along with the message: "Please help our family by signing this petition. The bond and closeness I have with my father, I hope and pray my girls have with Joe. Love to you all."

In a statement to The Daily Dish last week, their family attorney added they were still fighting Joe's possible deportation to Italy: "We have filed a stay with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and will continue to fight to keep Mr. Giudice in the United States, the only country he knows, and reunite him with his wife and four daughters.”