Media Team
British music icon Jane Eugene, famed for her role in the legendary R&B group Loose Ends, has been apprehended by U.S. authorities over visa violation allegations.
Immigration officials reportedly took her into custody for allegedly remaining in the country illegally for over two decades after her visa expired.
The arrest occurred at the Niagara Falls border crossing, where Eugene—attempting to enter Canada—was turned away before being detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.
Now 62, the singer, also known as Jane Peters, has resided in Los Angeles for years, fronting a U.S.-based incarnation of Loose Ends and regularly performing nationwide.
Court documents reveal she unsuccessfully sought a green card in 1999—while already in violation of her visa terms—leading to her current legal troubles.
The case could result in deportation and a decade-long ban from re-entering the U.S., as prolonged visa overstays carry severe penalties under immigration law.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated: “No one is exempt from immigration enforcement, regardless of fame or status.”
“Jane Eugene Sendall Peters had her visa petition denied in 1999 after already overstaying her permitted stay. Her recent arrest at the Canadian border has initiated removal proceedings before immigration courts.”
Visa violations lasting longer than one year automatically trigger an “unlawful presence” designation, potentially prohibiting re-entry for ten years if the individual departs voluntarily.
Eugene achieved international fame with Loose Ends’ 1985 smash hit “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” which made history as the first British act to top the U.S. R&B charts, while peaking at #13 in the UK.
The pioneering trio formed in London in 1980, originally called Loose End before renaming themselves in 1983. The Virgin Records-signed group featured Carl McIntosh, Steve Nichol, and Eugene, whose distinctive vocals helped define their signature sound.
