The nation's highest court agrees to review lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.

The top court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding constitutional right: birthright citizenship for those born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the order was subsequently blocked by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will nullify the provision entirely.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which comprise foreign-born parents and their newborns.

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the nation is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and members of foreign military forces.

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

The challenged executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.