An Australian woman was detained by a US border official who asked, 'Have you recently had an abortion?'

• Madolline Gourley was going to take her cat to Canada.

• Gourley was asked if she had had an abortion.

• Gourley said she was treated like a criminal by US Customs.

A woman from Australia was stopped at the US border and questioned about her recent abortion.

Madolline Gourley was travelling from Australia to Canada where she was going to house and cat-sit for free. Gourley has a travel diary on her website.

The 30-year-old told The Guardian she was treated like a criminal during her stop in Los Angeles on June 30 when border officials became suspicious about why she was travelling to Canada.

Gourley was asked if she was pregnant after being photographed, patted down, and questioned a second time. She was asked if she was pregnant again as she moved from one jail to another. She was asked if she'd had an abortion.

She told The Guardian Australia that she didn't know if she had forgotten or if she was lying. She looked at me again and asked if I had had an abortion.

I don't know what the thought process behind that is.

The US Customs and Border Protection takes allegations of unprofessional behavior seriously, according to a spokesman.

There are standard procedures for handling accusations of wrongdoing. We will correct the situation if we confirm the employee's wrongdoing.

Gourley was going through the US to Canada. The program allows citizens of various countries, such as Australia, to travel to the United States for 90 days or less without a visa.

Gourley was deported for violating the program's terms. The visa Waiver Program prohibits applicants from engaging in any type of employment or getting compensation for services rendered. House-sitting for free accommodations falls under the rule.

Madolline Gourley used to work for Business Insider. Gourley and US Customs and Border Protection did not reply immediately.

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