British R&B star Jane Eugene, lead vocalist of the iconic 1980s group Loose Ends, has been detained by U.S. immigration officials and now faces deportation after allegedly overstaying her visa by 26 years
The 62-year-old singer, also known as Jane Peters, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the Niagara Falls border crossing two months ago after being denied entry into Canada. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Eugene was attempting to leave the country when she was flagged for her immigration status.
Officials say Eugene has been living in the United States for decades, operating a U.S.-based version of Loose Ends and regularly performing across the country from her home in Los Angeles.
Government records show she applied for a green card in 1999, but her petition was denied—at a time when she had already overstayed her visa. DHS sources now say her prolonged “unlawful presence” may result in formal removal proceedings and a 10-year re-entry ban.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told MailOnline:
“The law applies equally, even to celebrities. 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. On May 3, 2025, Peters was encountered in Niagara Falls, NY, after being refused entry to Canada. CBP arrested her and she is pending a hearing with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.”
Under U.S. immigration law, anyone who overstays a visa by more than a year and leaves the country is subject to a mandatory 10-year bar from re-entry.
Jane Eugene rose to fame as part of Loose Ends, the British R&B trio best known for their 1985 hit “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” which made history as the first track by a British band to top the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. The song also reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
Formed in London in 1980 by Eugene, guitarist Carl McIntosh, and keyboardist Steve Nichol, the group originally performed under the name Loose End before changing to Loose Ends in 1983 after signing with Virgin Records.
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Too bad