A 19-year-old Bahraini princess who fled her country in disguise to marry a U.S. Marine against her family's wishes must face charges of illegally entering the country, a federal immigration judge said.

U.S. Immigration Judge Ignacio Fernandez refused to dismiss charges against Meriam al-Khalifa, a decision that prevents the young princess for applying for permanent residency here unless she wins political asylum.

Al-Khalifa, whose father, Sheik Abdulla al-Khalifa, is a cousin to Bahrain's head of state, Emir Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, said she will seek asylum on the grounds that it would be dangerous to go home after defying the royal family.

Al-Khalifa and her U.S. Marine husband, Pfc. Jason Johnson, met at a Bahraini shopping mall in January, 1999, while he was stationed there and fell in love.

The two developed a relationship and Johnson used military gear to disguise her for a flight out of the country. The couple were intercepted in Chicago, where she was charged with misrepresenting her identify to enter the U.S. and entering the country without legal documents.

The couple were later married in Las Vegas.

Johnson was reduced in rank from lance corporal for his part in the scheme.

Al-Khalifa and Johnson, who is stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, appeared before Fernandez seeking a change in her status that would allow her to apply for permanent resident status, which is customary for spouses who marry U.S. citizens.

The government's refusal, however, to drop the charges "now puts her in the position of having to go forward" and pursue asylum, said her attorney, Jan Bejar, outside the court.

The hearing, which lasted for about 15 minutes, was closed to the public and media. However, the Marine and his bride were mobbed by television cameras and microphones as they left the hearing room and left by means of a service elevator.

Bejar said it was "very possible" his client's life would be in danger if she were returned to her country, which is mostly Muslim. The religion traditionally discourages relationships with non-Muslims and as a member of the royal family, she is not free to choose whomever she wants to marry.

Reuters