It started as a routine trip to Canada. Jane Eugene, the unmistakable voice behind the 1980s R&B powerhouse Loose Ends, was heading across the border in May 2025. She probably expected a quick check and a stamp. Instead, the singer of "Hangin' on a String" found herself in the middle of a legal nightmare that has kept her in custody for months.
She was stopped at the Niagara Falls border crossing in New York. Border officials didn't just look at her passport; they looked at her history. What they found was a visa overstay dating back nearly three decades.
Jane Eugene detained by ICE became a headline that shocked the soul and R&B community. For fans who grew up on her smooth vocals, seeing her name linked to a correctional facility in Kentucky felt surreal. It wasn't just a administrative hiccup. It was a full-blown immigration crisis for a woman who has called the United States home for most of her adult life.
The Border Stop That Changed Everything
When Jane tried to enter Canada, she was refused entry. When she turned back to re-enter the U.S., that's when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stepped in. They flagged her for a visa that had expired 26 years ago.
It sounds crazy, right? How does someone live and work in the public eye for that long without this coming up?
The truth is, many people in the industry operate on various work visas that they assume are being handled by management or legal teams. In Jane's case, a petition for an "alien worker" visa was actually denied back in 1999. Since then, she had essentially been living in a legal grey area. She wasn't hiding; she was performing at major festivals and living her life. But the system has a long memory.
Where is Jane Eugene now?
Initially, she was held in upstate New York. Not long after, she was moved to the Campbell County Detention Center in Kentucky. Her legal team and friends have been vocal about the conditions. They say it’s taking a massive toll on her.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by her friend Dena, Jane’s health started "rapidly deteriorating" behind bars. She was under medical supervision for specific issues before her arrest, and the jail environment hasn't been kind to those needs.
- She has been unable to work or generate income since May 2025.
- Her supporters are pushing for a bond (bail) so she can receive proper medical care.
- The legal battle involves a complex provision called Section 245(i).
The Legal Hail Mary: Section 245(i)
This is where things get technical, but it's the core of why her lawyers think she should stay. There’s a rule under the Immigration and Nationality Act called Section 245(i). Basically, if you applied for a green card or a labor certification before April 30, 2001, you might be "grandfathered" in.
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Even if you overstayed, this rule lets you pay a fine and adjust your status without leaving the country.
Jane's team argues she meets these requirements. They claim her 1999 filing keeps her eligible for this protection. If the court agrees, she could potentially get her residency and avoid the 10-year ban that usually comes with a deportation for an overstay this long.
Honestly, the immigration courts are a mess. They are backed up by millions of cases. This means Jane has been sitting in a cell waiting for a hearing while her fans wonder if she’ll ever be allowed back on a U.S. stage.
The Human Cost of Jane Eugene Detained by ICE
During a call to KJLH’s Tammi Mac from the detention center, Jane sounded resilient but weary. She talked about the other women in there—mothers separated from kids, people who have nothing. It’s a side of the "soul legend" we never thought we’d see.
She’s not just a singer in this context; she’s an immigrant caught in a system that doesn't care about Grammy-level contributions to culture.
The DHS has been pretty blunt about it. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated that "the law applies equally, even to celebrities." It's a tough stance that has divided public opinion. Some say she should have followed the rules like everyone else. Others argue that someone who has contributed to the American cultural fabric for 30 years shouldn't be treated like a criminal for a decades-old paperwork error.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Case
A lot of people think she was "arrested" for a new crime. She wasn't. There were no drugs, no violence, no fraud. This is purely a civil immigration matter. But in the U.S., civil immigration detention often looks and feels exactly like jail.
Another misconception is that she can just "pay a fine and go home." Because she was stopped at a border, it triggered an "expedited removal" or a formal deportation proceeding. You can't just write a check to fix that once the gears of ICE are turning.
How to Support the Fight
If you're a fan of Loose Ends or just believe in the "grandfathering" rules of 245(i), there are a few things happening right now. The GoFundMe campaign is still active, aiming to cover the massive legal fees and the specialized medical care she'll need once—or if—she's released.
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Next Steps for Supporters:
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from her legal representative, Donald Wilson, who has been appearing on R&B-focused media outlets to give updates.
- Legal Advocacy: Civil rights groups like PushBlack have been highlighting her case as an example of how Black immigrants are often disproportionately affected by the enforcement of old immigration violations.
- Community Awareness: Sharing her story helps keep the pressure on. The more "Jane Eugene detained by ICE" stays in the news, the less likely her case is to be buried in the administrative backlog.
The situation is still developing. Her most recent updates from late 2025 suggest she is still fighting the case from a detention facility in Michigan/Kentucky while her appeal moves through the system. It’s a long road, but for the woman who gave us "Magic Touch," the hope is that the legal system finds a touch of mercy.
Keep an eye on the official "Help Free Jane Eugene" pages for the most current hearing dates and bond status updates.