The Seven Network’s Border Security program has been accused of contributing to alleged unfair treatment of an American transgender activist who had her Australian visa cancelled.

Monica Jones appeared in the Federal Circuit Court on Monday to fight the Immigration Department’s efforts to deport her, after she was detained in Villawood Detention Centre last week accused of breaching her visa work conditions.

The court heard a Channel Seven crew was also there, apparently tipped off.

Jules Kim, from the Scarlet Alliance Sex Workers Association, said the producers of the program “seemed to know details of the case before she’d given them”, and barrister Shane Prince said there was “a serious question about whether the decision had a predetermined outcome”.

Amid tight security, Ms Jones was allowed to sit in the front row of the public gallery. She appeared to be in good spirits, laughing and chatting with her supporters.

When Judge Rolf Driver asked her lawyers whether she had been offered a bridging visa, she cried out, “No, no,” indicating she had not.

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