5 missing Afghan scholars turn up in Canada

updated 6:11 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2008

SEATTLE - Five visiting scholars from Afghanistan who disappeared from the University of Washington were found Wednesday morning in Canada after crossing the border separately over the past several days, a U.S. immigration official said.

"We wanted to find them and we found them, so our investigation is now closed," said Lorie Dankers, a spokeswoman in Seattle for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "They're not in the U.S., so they're not in violation of U.S. immigration law."

Dankers said her agency worked with Canada Border Services Agency to confirm their whereabouts. A spokeswoman for the Canadian agency said she could not provide any information.

The five scholars, all men age 30 or younger, were visiting the University of Washington to work on their master's theses. They attended the first week of training workshops after arriving in late September but failed to show up for the second week of the program and have been missing since Oct. 6, the university said Tuesday.

They were among 38 mid-career government and nonprofit officials in Seattle for a three-month research and training program. They were working toward a master's degree in public policy and administration at Kabul University.

The university has expressed concern about the integrity of its program.

"We don't want this to happen," school spokesman Norm Arkans said. "It's not around for people to come and use it as an opportunity to immigrate illegally into the country."

More from msnbc.com When's Palin leaving? Take our weekly quiz Looking at China unrest from Mongolian perch Adventures in Cancerland: Lust for life Red Tape: Credit card firms' new squeeze Elkhart Blog: Making sure health care isn't casualty

MORE FROM EDUCATION

Education Section Front

At 84, man gets high school diploma College officials charged with funds misuse Professor in Sept. 11 flap loses job bid Teacher sorry for mock wedding to 4th grader Bullying, once a silent battle, now a crime New GI benefits vary widely by state Education Section Front   Add Education headlines to your news reader: