America's top judicial body agrees to review legal challenge challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The nation's highest court has will hear a pivotal case that questions a longstanding principle: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.
On the inaugural day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to end the policy, but the action was halted by lower courts after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's final judgment will either uphold citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will nullify the provision completely.
Next, the court will calendar a session to hear the case between the federal government and claimants, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their young children.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the principle that anyone born in the United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The disputed directive sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.
The United States is among about a minority of states – primarily in the North and South America – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born on their soil.
