Tensions are growing in Austria over the deportation of three girls to Georgia and Armenia, including a 12-year-old girl who was born in the country, euronews reports.

The government is being criticized for expelling the children, who are considered to be "well-integrated" into Austrian society, especially amid the coronavirus crisis.

The three young girls -- Georgian sisters aged 12 and five, and an Armenian student -- were deported from Austria on January 28.

Ahead of the eminent deportations, there were massive protests from friends, classmates and human rights activists at the deportation center the girls were staying at on the outskirts of the Austrian capital, Vienna.

“We are here to fight for Sona because it is not fair," said a girl at the protest.

"They took her from home in the middle of the night with the whole family, she is a great friend, integrated, well-adapted, she is a good student, preparing for her baccalaureate, preparing for a cooking exam, she writes a diploma thesis, that is not fair.”

Advocates of the girls said that Austria was not legally obliged to deport people without stay permits.