Deselecting an Image

[Harveyshot]

Gimp 2.10.38, Win 10 64
I opened a black image on a white background, I selected the black part, copied and pasted it as a new layer onto a new larger image (canvas) with a white background. Now, I cannot deselect the black part I pasted into the new image. I selected the layer, tried ctrl+shift+a and Select/None but nothing gets rid of the marching ants.
Sure could use some help.
Thank you.

[zeuspaul]

Have you tried merging visible layers?  Or first creating a new layer from the pasted layer and then merging down from the same menu?

.
.    

[denzjos]

Have you pasted the selection (Edit/Paste) and is the new layer visible as 'Floating selection (Pasted layer)? In this case, click on the 'floating selection' (in the dock) and choose 'To new layer'.

[Ofnuts]

Is it the marching ants (moving) or just the layer boundary (fixed yellow/black dashed line?). If the later it is not a selection it just tells you where you can make changes. If you want to add things outside of the area you just pasted in, Layer > Layer to image size .