Related : Joe Giudice Asks to Return to Italy Amid Deportation Appeal

UPDATE: Joe Giudice's deportation appeal has been denied, per court records obtained by E! News.

A source says Giudice and his legal team are currently discussing possible next steps in the ongoing immigration case, but their hope is fleeting.

"His next legal option is to petition to the full Third Circuit Court and he has 45 days to do so," explains the insider. "His final legal option if that is denied is to petition the Supreme Court. It is not yet determined if he will take the next steps to further appeal, but it's being discussed."

The source adds, "When they had turned down the chance to hear oral arguments, that is typically not a good sign, and it turns out it wasn't. However, his team did garner some optimism when the case sat since November without any decision from the Third Circuit, but unfortunately it didn't turn out to be an indication that there would be a favorable decision."

For more details on Giudice's legal battles keep scrolling.

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UPDATE: Joe Giudice's next chapter begins now.

The Giudice family attorney confirms to E! News that Joe has been released from U.S. ICE custody and is currently on a plane to Italy."We are very happy that Joe is free, but very sad that he is still not home where he belongs," James Leonard said in a statement.

"On Oct. 10, 2018, an immigration judge determined that Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice's convictions for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, constituted aggravated felonies and rendered him statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act and ordered him removed," ICE said in a statement. "The Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed the immigration judge's decision. Mr. Giudice is a criminal recidivist, who has been convicted of six separate criminal offenses spanning 27 years, beginning in 1988 up until his incarceration for his most recent conviction. On Oct 12, he was successfully removed from the United States to Italy, as ordered by the court."

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Joe Giudice is going home.

Not to his wife, Real Housewives of New Jersey's Teresa Giudice, and their four daughters in New Jersey. To his native Italy. For now.