The nation's highest court agrees to hear legal challenge disputing birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will nullify them entirely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear the case between the government and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their young children.

The Legal Foundation

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel 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 challenged presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about a minority of states – primarily in the North and South America – that provide immediate citizenship to anyone born in their territory.