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

The top court has agreed to take on a significant case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: birthright citizenship for individuals born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end this practice, but the move was subsequently blocked by the judiciary after legal challenges were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn those rights altogether.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the federal government and plaintiffs, which involve immigrant parents and their newborns.

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of occupying armies.

"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 refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about three dozen nations – largely in the Americas – that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.