Joe Giudice is officially a free man, but it comes with a tragic catch.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star was released from Allenwood Low Federal Correctional Institution in Allenwood, Pennsylvania.
We now know that Giudice was transferred directly to an immigration detention center.
“Mr. Giudice has finished serving his federal prison sentence and was transferred early this morning from the Bureau of Prisons to a facility in western Pennsylvania which houses immigration detainees,” his attorney James Leonard Jr. told PEOPLE.
“His lawyers and his family are hopeful that justice will prevail and Mr. Guidice will return home to his wife and four daughters who love him and miss him.”
Joe, 46, began his 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud in March 2016. His wife Teresa Giudice, 46, served a little over 11 months in prison herself for the same crimes and was released on Dec. 23, 2015.
Giudice will remain at the immigration center indefinitely as he awaits his deportation ruling.
According to E!, Teresa is “happy and relieved” her husband has been released from prison, but she’s aware of the reality of the situation may not be what they hoped for.
“Teresa is happy and relieved for Joe that his prison sentence is over,” a source told E! News.
“However, the reality is that Joe’s release really only changes things for Joe. Very little changes for Teresa and the kids as a result of his release. Joe still can’t come home and his deportation is still looming over their heads.”
“Teresa hasn’t given up hope that Joe can win his appeal and avoid deportation,” the source said.
“She doesn’t want to see her daughters suffer through that, but she also knows how strong and resilient her girls are. Even though she is hopeful, Teresa has accepted the fact that the odds aren’t in Joe’s favor.”