America's top judicial body has decided to review lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.
The top court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding principle: birthright citizenship for those born within US borders.
On day one in office this January, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to terminate the policy, but the action was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were initiated.
The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either support citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will nullify the provision altogether.
Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear arguments between the government and claimants, which involve immigrant parents and their infants.
The Legal Foundation
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of invading forces.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The contested directive sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that award automatic citizenship to all those born in their territory.
