America's top judicial body will consider lawsuit challenging citizenship by birth.
The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born on American soil.
On the inaugural day in office this January, the President enacted a directive aiming to terminate this practice, but the move was struck down by the judiciary after lawsuits were initiated.
The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either support citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify them completely.
Next, the judges will set a time to hear oral arguments between the government and the suing parties, which include parents who are immigrants and their newborns.
The 14th Amendment
For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the rule that all individuals born in the nation is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of occupying armies.
"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The disputed directive sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – largely in the North and South America – that award instant citizenship to any person born within their borders.
