America's top judicial body has decided to review lawsuit disputing citizenship by birth.

The top court has will hear a landmark case that challenges a historic principle: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate this practice, but the order was struck down by lower courts after legal challenges were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of migrants who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision entirely.

Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which comprise 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 United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.

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

The contested presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

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