Visit visa after deportation

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could offer advice

My husband was convicted of a drug offence in 1994, he was then requested for an immigration hearing which he did not attend he was subsequently ordered deported and they collected him from his house in 2000 and deported him to the country he was born.

My husband had lived in the US for over 25 years and this was his one and only offence.

His whole family live in the US including his son, we would like to visit them and was wondering if there was any way to travel to the US on a visitor visa.

He no longer has his paperwork and we are not sure of his exclusion period. Have tried to find out but apparently the wait is over 18month for a FOI immigration file

Any advice would be greatly appreciated