Moments after being sworn in as a U.S. citizens, Mardia Hoch,10, to the right, reacts as her mother Bahga Guelleh, 41, waves the flag while the new citizens are given a standing ovation during a naturalization ceremony at Biddeford Middle School on Wednesday. Guelleh's daughters were also sworn in. They are, from left, Afnan Hoch, 12, Rayane Hoch, 13, Guelleh and Mardia Hoch, 10.
Ahmed Abbas, of Biddeford, who is originally from Iraq, holds his 4-year-old daughter, Ameera, during a naturalization ceremony at Biddeford Middle School on Wednesday.
Bahga Guelleh, 41, and her daughters pledge allegiance to the flag during a naturalization ceremony in Biddeford. From left are Afnan Hoch, 12, Rayane Hoch, 13, Guelleh and Mardia Hoch, 10. Guelleh, who now lives in Portland, is originally from Djibouti, Africa. Her daughters were also sworn in at the ceremony.
Sadeq Aljumaili holds a flag during a naturalization ceremony at Biddeford Middle School on Wednesday. Aljumaili is originally from Iraq but now lives in Augusta.
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