R&B icon Jane Eugene, lead vocalist of the acclaimed ’80s British group Loose Ends, is set to learn her fate this week regarding a looming deportation order from the United States.
Eugene, best known for classic hits like Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating) and Magic Touch, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly three months. Her detention stems from a reported 26-year overstay of her visa.
The singer was apprehended in April while attempting to cross the U.S.-Canada border and was initially held in upstate New York before being transferred to a correctional facility in Kentucky. Supporters say her time in custody has taken a severe toll on her well-being.
“Jane’s health is rapidly deteriorating,” reads a message on a recently launched GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds for her legal and living expenses. “She has been unable to work or generate income for the past few months and foreseeable future.”
Eugene is currently seeking bail and permission to remain in the U.S., where she has been residing for over two decades. If deported, she could face a 10-year reentry ban.
As a founding member of Loose Ends alongside Carl McIntosh and Steve Nichol, Jane Eugene helped shape the sound of British soul and R&B in the 1980s. Since her departure from the original lineup in 1990, she has continued to perform under the moniker Loose Ends featuring Jane Eugene.
The final decision on her immigration status is expected within days.
