Jane Eugene has spent nearly three months in ICE custody and could be deported this week after overstaying her U.S. visa by more than two decades.
Jane Eugene has spent nearly three months in U.S. immigration custody and could be deported this week after overstaying her visa for more than two decades.
The Loose Ends frontwoman, known for the 1985 R&B chart-topper “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” was detained in April while crossing the Canadian border.
Immigration officers took her into custody and initially held her in upstate New York before transferring her to a detention facility in Kentucky, where she remains.
Eugene, a British national and longtime U.S. resident, is awaiting a decision on whether she will be granted bail and allowed to remain in the country. If deported, she could be barred from reentering the United States for 10 years.
A GoFundMe campaign launched on her behalf describes deteriorating conditions and a severe decline in her health. “Jane’s health is rapidly deteriorating. Unable to work or generate income for the past few months and foreseeable future, Jane needs our help,” the fundraiser states.
The singer’s legal troubles stem from a 26-year visa overstay, a violation that has left her vulnerable to deportation proceedings. Despite her long-standing presence in the U.S. music scene, immigration authorities detained her without bond.
Eugene rose to fame in the early 1980s as the lead vocalist of Loose Ends alongside Carl McIntosh and Steve Nichol. The trio helped define the British soul movement with hits like “Magic Touch” and “Slow Down.”
After parting ways with the group in 1990, Eugene continued performing under the name Loose Ends featuring Jane Eugene.
Her supporters are now rallying to raise funds for legal fees and medical support, hoping she can avoid deportation and resume her career.
A decision on her case is expected this week.
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