The nation's highest court will review case challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The top court has decided to review a significant case that puts to the test a historic principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born in the United States.
On the inaugural day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was halted by federal courts after constitutional questions were initiated.
The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision completely.
Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which include parents who are immigrants and their young children.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has codified the rule that every person born in the country is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats 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 presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either 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 – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that provide automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.
