America's top judicial body has decided to review legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.

The US Supreme Court has will hear a significant case that challenges a historic guarantee: birthright citizenship for those born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to end the policy, but the order was struck down by lower courts after constitutional questions were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will end those rights entirely.

Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the administration and plaintiffs, which comprise foreign-born parents and their newborns.

The Legal Foundation

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel 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 disputed presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on temporary visas.

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