America's top judicial body agrees to review case challenging citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that questions a century-old constitutional right: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will either support citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will end them completely.

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

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.

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

The contested 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 non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about three dozen nations – largely in the Western Hemisphere – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.