America's top judicial body will consider case challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a significant case that questions a century-old constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for people born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was halted by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's final decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will overturn the provision altogether.

Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which involve foreign-born parents and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has established the rule that all individuals born in the United States is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The contested directive sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that award immediate citizenship to anyone born in their territory.