America's top judicial body agrees to review lawsuit challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has decided to review a pivotal case that puts to the test a century-old guarantee: birthright citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, the administration enacted a directive aiming to terminate the policy, but the order was subsequently blocked by lower courts after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end them entirely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the rule that every person born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of foreign military forces.

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

The challenged presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the North and South America – that award instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.