America's top judicial body will review case challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that challenges a century-old constitutional right: automatic citizenship for people born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, the President signed an order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will ultimately support citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will end them completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and plaintiffs, which involve parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The Legal Foundation

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the principle that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and members of invading forces.

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

The disputed directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children 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 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that award immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.