America's top judicial body agrees to consider legal challenge challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The top court has will hear a significant case that challenges a historic guarantee: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate the policy, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will either support citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision completely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their newborns.

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the nation is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel 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 contested presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – largely in the Americas – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born within their borders.