Joe Giudice plans to fight any effort to deport him back to Italy after he has served his nearly four-year sentence on bank fraud-related charges.

Radar Online reports the husband of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star Teresa Giudice may go as far as invoking the plight of Syrian refugees in his effort to remain in the States. Teresa, who was found guilty of similar charges in the same scheme as her husband, is currently serving out the remainder of her 15-month sentence.

Despite living in the U.S. for more than two decades, the website adds, Joe never legally became an American citizen, paving the way for his possible deportation given his recent conviction.

"There is no way Joe is going back to Italy without a huge long legal battle," said a source. "He had already begun the steps to become a citizen as the criminal case against him developed."

A source adds Joe also finds it "absolutely ridiculous" that Syrian refugees could be given citizenship while he could face such a harsh fate.

"He thinks there are terrorists among the Syrian refugees that hope to get political asylum," a source added. "Meanwhile, he says he has vowed to be a model citizen."

With his wife still incarcerated, Joe is slated to star in his own spin off on Bravo, where the network will chronicle his life as a single father with four daughters, trying to hold his family together until his wife returns. The first installment of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In" is set to air on Oct. 11.

In a recently released clip from the show, Joe reflects, "It's hard keeping up with all these kids ... I'm doing a lot ... I think I've even lost about 10 pounds."

Once released from custody, Teresa is expected to rejoin the cast of "Real Housewives," where reports are she could command a salary of as much as $2 million per season.