The nation's highest court has decided to review legal challenge disputing birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that puts to the test a longstanding principle: birthright citizenship for those born within US borders.

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

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

Next, the court will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the federal government and claimants, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The challenged presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that award automatic citizenship to all those born in their territory.