Jane Eugene, the powerhouse voice behind 80s R&B group Loose Ends, was detained by ICE for allegedly overstaying her U.S. visa by 26 years. The 62-year-old British singer, best known for classics like “Hangin’ On a String,” was arrested at the Canadian border in May and now faces possible deportation.
According to officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the 62-year-old British-born singer, also known by her legal name Jane Peters, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Canadian border in Niagara Falls. She wasn’t trying to sneak in. She was actually attempting to leave the U.S. but got turned away by Canada.
That’s when U.S. agents stepped in and reportedly arrested her on the spot, claiming she had overstayed her visa by more than two decades. 26 years, to be exact.
Jane has been living in the U.S. for years, performing with a U.S.-based version of Loose Ends and calling Los Angeles home. But her immigration status has apparently been in limbo since the late ’90s. According to the DHS, she applied for a green card in 1999; however, by then, she had already overstayed her visa and was denied.
Now, she’s facing possible deportation and a 10-year ban from re-entering the country.
The news has shocked fans, especially in the Black community, who grew up on Loose Ends’ smooth blend of soul, funk, and R&B. Their single “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating)” made history in 1985 as the first song by a British band to hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. It’s been streamed over 21 million times on Spotify alone.
The arrest has sparked bigger conversations online. Many are questioning the harshness of U.S. immigration policies, especially when it comes to older Black immigrants who’ve contributed to American culture but are still left vulnerable.
A GoFundMe has since been launched to support Jane’s legal battle, and it has already raised over $6,000 as of Thursday night. Fans have flooded the page with messages of love and support.
Loose Ends was formed in 1980 and became one of the U.K.’s most beloved R&B exports.
