America's top judicial body agrees to review legal challenge disputing citizenship by birth.
The US Supreme Court has decided to review a significant case that puts to the test a longstanding principle: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.
On day one in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to end the policy, but the action was subsequently blocked by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.
The Supreme Court's final decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will end those rights entirely.
Next, the judges will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and claimants, which include parents who are immigrants and their infants.
The 14th Amendment
For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of foreign military forces.
"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 refuse 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 30 countries – mostly in the North and South America – that award instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.
