As the future of a Tamil asylum seeker family hangs in the balance, thousands of Australians have joined the chorus of voices calling for the Prime Minister to overturn a decision to deport them.
Priya, her husband Nadesalingam and their two Australian-born daughters were after a judge granted a last-minute temporary injunction.
A large group of supporters had rushed to Melbourne airport earlier in the evening and chanted "let them stay".
Among those calling for the Federal Government to stop the family's deportation was refugee Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, whose detention in Thailand captured worldwide attention earlier this year.
“I hope Scott Morrison and his team can stop the deportation of this family. They came to Australia to get protection here,” Mr al-Araibi said in a video posted to Facebook.
“You helped me when I was in Thailand. I feel like this family. I know who they feel about their future and their daughter.
“Please, Scott Morrison, stop this happening.”
Mr al-Araibi became an Australian citizen in March after Mr Morrison and other Australian officials successfully sought his release from a Thai prison, where he was being detained on an Interpol red notice issued by Bahrain.
The hashtag #HometoBilo, a reference to the regional Queensland town of Biloela where the Tamil family had settled for four years being arrested by immigration officers in March 2018, was the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday morning.
Supporters have previously told SBS News they feared the family would be in danger if sent back to Sri Lanka.
The Department of Immigration had previously stated the family's case had been assessed over many years.
A hearing is listed for 10am on Friday at the Federal Circuit Court.
