The U.S. government is still searching for two Afghan aircraft maintenance students who went missing this week while receiving training at a U.S. Air Force base in Georgia, and will revoke the men's visas, officials said on Friday.
The two men, who failed to report for duty on Monday to Moody Air Force Base in the town of Valdosta, are still considered to pose no threat to public safety, said Air Force spokeswoman Major Melissa Milner.
Their disappearance comes at a time of heightened vigilance against possible attacks in the United States, after a married couple who the FBI says were inspired by Islamic extremists opened fire at a county office centre in San Bernardino, California, on Dec. 2, killing 14 people.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of Homeland Security, is the lead investigative agency looking for the two Afghan trainees, said Bryan Cox, a spokesman for ICE.
The U.S. State Department is poised to revoke the two men's visas, he said.
"The process that's happening here is the standard process for anybody that is not compliant with the terms of their visa," Cox said.
The students, who were screened by the U.S. and Afghan governments before coming to the United States, were assigned to the 81st Fighter Squadron, Milner said. They began their training in the spring and were scheduled to graduate next week, she said.
It was not known why they left the base and U.S. officials declined to release their names.
More than 160,000 Afghans have left their country for Europe this year, most spurred by poor job prospects and worsening security as Taliban insurgents grow more powerful after the bulk of NATO troops withdrew at the end of 2014.
In January, a soldier in the Afghanistan army who went missing during a training exercise at a U.S. military base in Massachusetts was granted asylum by the United States.
The soldier was one of three Afghans who turned themselves in at a Canadian border crossing in New York state in 2014 after disappearing from an exercise, provoking a search by military officials and state police.
The two men, who failed to report for duty on Monday to Moody Air Force Base in the town of Valdosta, are still considered to pose no threat to public safety, said Air Force spokeswoman Major Melissa Milner.
Their disappearance comes at a time of heightened vigilance against possible attacks in the United States, after a married couple who the FBI says were inspired by Islamic extremists opened fire at a county office centre in San Bernardino, California, on Dec. 2, killing 14 people.
The U.S. State Department is poised to revoke the two men's visas, he said.
Advertisement
The students, who were screened by the U.S. and Afghan governments before coming to the United States, were assigned to the 81st Fighter Squadron, Milner said. They began their training in the spring and were scheduled to graduate next week, she said.
Advertisement
More than 160,000 Afghans have left their country for Europe this year, most spurred by poor job prospects and worsening security as Taliban insurgents grow more powerful after the bulk of NATO troops withdrew at the end of 2014.
Advertisement
The soldier was one of three Afghans who turned themselves in at a Canadian border crossing in New York state in 2014 after disappearing from an exercise, provoking a search by military officials and state police.
© Thomson Reuters 2015
COMMENTS
Advertisement
US Air Force Releases First Images Of 'B-21 Raider', The Newest Nuclear Stealth Bomber No Imminent Threat From ISIS To US Homeland: White House "Free Palestine": US Airman Dies After Setting Himself On Fire Over Gaza Dubai Princess Shaikha Mahra Divorces Husband In Insta Post, Cites Reason In Massive Row Over Karnataka 100% Quota Bill, Chief Minister Deletes Post 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare Rs 1,200 Crore Needed For India's Electric Car Revolution: Top Scientist Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Break 64-Year Royal Tradition In Surprise Move Hyundai Exter vs Tata Punch: Which CNG Option Is Better On Paper? Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.