America's top judicial body agrees to consider legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a historic guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born on American soil.

On day one in office this winter, the President signed an order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was subsequently blocked by the judiciary after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will nullify the provision entirely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear the case between the federal government and claimants, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and members of foreign military forces.

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

The contested executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is one of about three dozen nations – mostly in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to all those born within their borders.