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

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a significant case that challenges a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by the judiciary after legal challenges were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will nullify them completely.

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

The Legal Foundation

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

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

The challenged executive order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring 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 a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.