Five scholars from Afghanistan scheduled to attend seminars at the UW have gone missing, along with their luggage and all of their belongings. The scholars were part of a group of 38 people and were noticed missing on Oct. 6, after they failed to attend their scheduled seminars.

All of the scholars are mid-career graduate students working for the Afghani government or non-profit organizations. They were using UW facilities to help them earn degrees at Kabul University, according to an article in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

It is believed that the students used the program as a means to gain access into the United States in order to live as illegal immigrants, according to the P-I. The case was initially reported to the FBI, but after no security threat was determined, the case was handed over to U.S. Immigration Services.

Last year, 15 Afghani students visited on the same program, and only 13 returned, according to UW spokesman Norm Arkans. Last year the two scholars disappeared at the end of the program.

Whether or not measures will be put into place to make sure the remaining 33 students do not violate their visas and flee as well has not been made clear at this point.

Reach reporter Casey Smith at news@dailyuw.com.