America's top judicial body agrees to consider lawsuit questioning citizenship by birth.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that challenges a historic constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.

On day one in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the action was struck down by federal courts after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately support citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights entirely.

Next, the court will calendar a session to hear arguments between the government and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has codified the rule that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of occupying armies.

"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 refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that provide automatic citizenship to any person born in their territory.