Afghan students disappear from UW program

SEATTLE, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Five visiting scholars from Kabul University in Afghanistan have disappeared from the University of Washington, officials say.

University officials say they believe the academics are trying to remain in the United States illegally, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Wednesday.

The scholars, whose backgrounds were investigated by authorities before their visas were issued, disappeared last week. University of Washington spokesman Norm Arkans said the men are not believed to be a threat to public safety.

The scholars were taking part in a three-month public administration program through the Afghan eQuality Alliance, a program coordinated with the U.S. Agency for International Development.

University police notified the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week, the newspaper reported.

Two other scholars from Afghanistan vanished in 2007, after competing their academic program.

"That's not a door we want to have opened," Arkans said. "It's not what this program is about."