Gia Giudice says her family has filed a humanitarian packet to bring her deported father back to the United States.
“We just filed a humanitarian packet for him. Just kind of trying to do everything we can to get him pardoned and hopefully come back, or even just in visitation,” the “Next Gen: NYC” star, 25, told Fox 5 New York on Wednesday. “We’re still actively working through that and trying everything we can. I think any family would want their dad home. Any daughter, any child would want their father home. So still actively doing whatever we can.”
Gia also shared that she will be visiting her father, who currently resides in the Bahamas, next week, adding that he is “doing great.”
The reality star’s update comes a year after she faced backlash for asking President Donald Trump to pardon her father.
Inspired by Todd and Julie Chrisley’s prison pardons, Gia shared a video of herself signing a stack of letters that she addressed to the president in an emotional Instagram post in July 2025.
“Hey, guys, my name is Gia Giudice,” she narrated in the video. “I’m the daughter of Joe Giudice and today I’m using my voice for something deeply personal.”
“My dad was deported over four years ago. Since then, our family has lived in an emotional limbo. No matter how strong we try to be in the absence of a father, of a parent, it’s something that never stops hurting.”
She continued, “Watching the Chrisley family receive a second chance inspired me. It showed me that people can be forgiven, that families could be restored and that sometimes the justice system has room for grace. That gave me hope. Hope that maybe my dad could come home too.”
Although the video’s intent was to champion her dad, many of her followers called out Gia for being “tone deaf.”
“Privilege at its finest………what advice would you give all the other young people who are having their families torn apart for far less reasons? Im curious,” one commenter wrote.
“I’m big confused because aren’t y’all flying to Italy to see him all the time anyway? So not only do you have the financial privilege to go and see him basically whenever you want, but you also have the privilege of having a big enough platform to even ask the the president for a pardon for your father,” said another netizen.
Despite the negative reaction to the upload, Gia’s mom, Teresa Giudice — who split from Joe in 2019 — supported her daughter’s mission and shared several heart emojis under the post.
Days later, Gia issued an apology for the post after it garnered so much backlash.
“I did not intend to post it on the 4th of July. That was just not my intention at all,” she explained on her “Casual Chaos” podcast at the time. “I have so much respect for my country, and I was not trying to show any privilege or entitlement.”
“I woke up and knew I had to do something for my dad. That was the only thing on my mind, was my dad,” she insisted.
The month prior, Joe, 54, had also asked the president for a pardon himself.
“I’m Joe Giudice. I served my time, and I’ve been deported from the U.S. For nearly a decade. I was raised in Jersey, I’m a father of four amazing daughters, and I just want to be allowed to visit them again,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “President Trump, I respect you and I’m asking for a second chance.”
In the viral moment that started years of legal battles, Joe and Teresa were indicted on federal fraud charges in 2013 and were both sentenced to prison. Joe ultimately spent 41 months behind bars after pleading guilty to failing to pay taxes and mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud until March 2019. Since the Italian-born Joe never became a naturalized citizen, he was deported in 2019 during Trump’s first term. He later relocated to the Bahamas to be closer to his New Jersey-based family.
Along with Gia, the former Bravolebrity is also dad to daughters Gabriella, Audriana and Milania, all of whom he shares with ex-wife Teresa.
Gia, who graduated from Rutgers University and has worked at an immigration law firm, has said her parents’ ordeal influenced her career path. “Their whole experience influenced me, honestly, for the better,” she previously shared. “I just want to help families and be able to be there for families and help children, honestly, especially.”
Joe is scheduled to face Ojani Noa in a boxing match in the Bahamas.