US Supreme Court agrees to consider case challenging citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: automatic citizenship for people born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by federal courts after constitutional questions were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will overturn those rights completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has established the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a American citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel 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 offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born on their soil.