America's top judicial body agrees to hear legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a significant case that challenges a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for those born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, the President enacted a directive aiming to end this practice, but the move was halted by lower courts after lawsuits were filed.

The Supreme Court's final decision will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will end them entirely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which involve parents who are immigrants and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has established the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of occupying armies.

"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The disputed executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about three dozen nations – largely in the Western Hemisphere – that award instant citizenship to anyone born within their borders.