America's top judicial body agrees to review lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.

The top court has decided to review a significant case that challenges a century-old principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born on American soil.

On day one in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to halt this practice, but the action was subsequently blocked by federal courts after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will overturn those rights completely.

Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear the case between the government and claimants, which comprise immigrant parents and their newborns.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the principle that anyone born in the country is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel 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 executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about three dozen nations – largely in the Americas – that grant automatic citizenship to all those born in their territory.