British comedian Russell Brand has been sent packing from the U.S. after immigration authorities denied him entrance into the country.

The actor was due to appear on talkshow Late Night with David Letterman on Wednesday to promote his new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

But, after landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City earlier this week, he was delayed by authorities - and eventually forced to board a plan back to the U.K., causing him to miss his scheduled TV appearance.

Brand jokes, "Now that I know what it’s like to be an illegal immigrant, I’ve cancelled my membership to the BNP (British National Party, a facist political faction)."

But it’s not the first time Brand has encountered trouble with border officials - he’s previously admitted to being quizzed by immigration authorities in relation to his previous drug convictions.