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

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a significant case that puts to the test a historic guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for people born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the action was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will nullify the provision completely.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the government and claimants, which involve immigrant parents and their infants.

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of foreign military forces.

"All persons 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 belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that grant instant citizenship to any person born in their territory.