US Supreme Court agrees to review case challenging citizenship by birth.

The top court has will hear a pivotal case that questions a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for individuals born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was struck down by lower courts after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual judgment will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify those rights completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which include parents who are immigrants and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the principle that every person born in the country is a US 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 executive order sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.