America's top judicial body will review legal challenge disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a century-old guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for people born within US borders.
On his first day in office this January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were filed.
The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will end those rights entirely.
Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the federal government and plaintiffs, which include foreign-born parents and their newborns.
The 14th Amendment
For more than 150 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the doctrine that every person born in the country is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats 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 challenged directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is among about 30 countries – largely in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.
