America's top judicial body will hear legal challenge disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that puts to the test a century-old principle: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born within US borders.
On day one in office this January, the President enacted a directive aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the move was struck down by lower courts after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's eventual decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the children of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will end those rights entirely.
Next, the justices will set a time to hear the case between the administration and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their newborns.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has established the doctrine that every person born in the United States is a American 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 executive order sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born within their borders.
