The nation's highest court will consider case questioning automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The top court has decided to review a pivotal case that questions a longstanding guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.
On the inaugural day in office this winter, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the action was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.
The Supreme Court's final judgment will either support citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will end them altogether.
Next, the court will set a time to hear arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which involve immigrant parents and their newborns.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and members of foreign military forces.
"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The disputed directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – primarily in the North and South America – that provide automatic citizenship to all those born within their borders.
