ICE detains chart-topping British R&B singer for overstaying visa
Jane Eugene | Photo from GoFundMe
Detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly three months, R&B singer Jane Eugene is now awaiting a critical decision that could determine whether she stays in the country she has called home for decades or is deported back to the UK.
The voice behind Loose Ends’ ‘80s hits “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating)” and “Magic Touch,” Eugene was reportedly stopped in April while crossing the Canadian border.
According to her representatives, immigration officials flagged her for a visa overstay, dating back 26 years, and placed her in custody. She was first detained in a New York facility before being transferred to a correctional institution in Kentucky, where she remains incarcerated.
A GoFundMe page launched on her behalf reveals that “conditions are taking a huge toll” on the 1980s star. “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 page adds.
Supporters are hopeful she could be released on bail this week as a legal path remains open for her to stay in the country.
Under Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who applied for a green card before 2001 may still be eligible to regularize their status while remaining in the US even if they have overstayed their visa. Advocates say Eugene, having lived in the US for decades, qualifies under this rule and is considered “grandfathered in.”
“We’re launching this GoFundMe to help cover the initial cost of legal fees, protect her health while she’s in ICE custody, pay for a possible bond (bail), and close some of the gaps on paying for basic needs,” the campaign said.
A decision on her release and next steps is expected within the week.
Eugene rose to prominence in the 1980s as part of Loose Ends’ founding trio, alongside Carl McIntosh and Steve Nichol. The band achieved several hit records throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s. “Hangin’ on a String” reached No. 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1985, making Loose Ends the first African-British band to top that chart.
Today, her fans, peers and advocates are calling for compassion and justice as she fights to stay in the only place she’s known for most of her adult life.
“She loves America, has made her home here, and wants to fight using every legal remedy available,” the campaign added.
