CONTROVERSIAL anti-abortion activist Troy Newman was detained by Customs officials and now awaits deportation after entering Australia without a visa.

Newman, who is originally from America, was pulled off a plane in Denver when his visa was revoked.

But that didn’t stop him finding a way around despite “many objections by the airlines and Australia”.

Newman arrived in the airport today despite the federal government cancelling his visa on Tuesday after fears were raised his visit for a speaking tour could incite community harm.

“Since Mr Newman-Mariotti does not hold a visa, he is unable to enter Australia and remains in the presence of (Australian Border Force) officials at the Melbourne Airport pending his removal,” a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told AAP.

According to Operation Rescue, Newman’s deportation could take 72 hours.

Newman is the President of the organisation, which now claims he is a ‘political prisoner’ and deserves an apology.

On Operation Rescue’s website, Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger said: “Troy’s unjust treatment by the Australian government is based on a pack of bold-faced lies about his character. This makes him a political prisoner. This is unjust and as a representative of Operation Rescue, I demand his immediate release and an apology from Minister Dutton for the trouble he has caused by acquiescing to false accusations of those who oppose Newman’s pro-life stance.”

United Airlines, which let him fly, also faces a fine for letting him travel without a visa.

Right to Life Australia spokeswoman Katrina Haller said Mr Newman has not been able to call anyone on his mobile, she said.

“He is sitting in a cell with a stainless steel toilet, not able to contact his lawyer. It’s disgusting,” Dr Haller told AAP. Australia only notified Mr Newman about his cancelled visa by posting a letter to his US address on Tuesday, she said.

So he did not know about it when he boarded his United Airlines flight from the US, she said.

Dear FriendsAs many of you know I'm scheduled to speak in a national tour with Right to Life Australia from the 1st to... Posted by Troy Newman on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Newman posted to his Facebook page that “through a chain of events the Lord” allowed him to board a plane “in spite of many objections by the airlines and Australia”.

“We have been in the air 11 hours and will land in about 4,” he wrote in the post.

“Please pray that we can get past immigration so the truth can be told throughout Australia.”

Newman has written several books decrying abortion and labels women who have them “murderers”.

He was due to conduct a speaking tour as a guest of anti-abortion group Right to Life Australia, and had planned to hold a series of public events to campaign against Australian women’s reproductive rights and proposed laws to create a “buffer zone” around medical clinics.

Originally published as Anti-abortion activist to be deported