The nation's highest court has decided to review legal challenge challenging citizenship by birth.
The top court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born on American soil.
On the inaugural day in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was struck down by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's final ruling will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will overturn them completely.
Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their newborns.
The 14th Amendment
For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the nation is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.
"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The challenged directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that grant instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.
