The nation's highest court has decided to review legal challenge questioning citizenship by birth.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a historic constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, the administration enacted a directive aiming to end the policy, but the action was struck down by lower courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights completely.

Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the federal government and plaintiffs, which involve parents who are immigrants and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the principle that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions 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 contested executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – mostly in the North and South America – that grant instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.