The nation's highest court agrees to consider case questioning citizenship by birth.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a historic principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to end this practice, but the move was halted by the judiciary after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will nullify the provision completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the federal government and claimants, which include immigrant parents and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and members 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 challenged executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about 30 countries – largely in the North and South America – that grant immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.