America's top judicial body has decided to consider lawsuit challenging citizenship by birth.

The top court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a historic guarantee: birthright citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was subsequently blocked by federal courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights altogether.

Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear arguments between the administration and claimants, which involve parents who are immigrants and their infants.

The Legal Foundation

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the nation is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of occupying armies.

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

The disputed executive 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 is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.