Jane Eugene, the renowned lead singer of the 1980s British R&B group Loose Ends, is facing deportation after being detained by U.S. immigration officials for overstaying her visa by more than 26 years.
The 62-year-old artist was arrested on May 3, 2025, after attempting to cross into Canada at Niagara Falls. Canadian authorities denied her entry, prompting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to detain her at the border.
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According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Eugene—whose full legal name is Jane Eugene Sendall Peters—has been living unlawfully in the United States since the late 1990s. She applied for a U.S. green card in 1999, but her application was rejected because she had already overstayed her visa by that time.
Now based in Los Angeles, Eugene has remained active in music, performing across the country with a U.S.-based version of Loose Ends. Despite her continued success, she has come under scrutiny as part of a renewed immigration crackdown led by President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
“The law applies equally, even to celebrities,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Jane Eugene Sendall Peters was denied an immigrant petition for alien workers in 1999 and had already overstayed her visa at the time of application. She is now pending a hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.”
Eugene’s immigration issues come just three years after a legal dispute with former Loose Ends bandmate Carl McIntosh, who sued her in 2022 for trademark infringement over the use of the band’s name in promotional material.
Loose Ends made history in 1985 with their hit Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating), which reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart—marking the first time a British group topped that chart.
If deported, Eugene could face a 10-year ban from returning to the United States. Officials have also suggested that her case is being highlighted to reinforce the administration’s firm stance on immigration, regardless of status or celebrity.
President Trump recently visited a Florida detention facility, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” to emphasize his administration’s commitment to strict immigration enforcement.
Despite her lasting influence on American music, Eugene’s case underscores broader national debates on visa enforcement, immigration policy, and the intersection of fame and legal accountability.
Her case now awaits a ruling from the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
