The nation's highest court will review case questioning citizenship by birth.
The nation's highest court has will hear a landmark case that questions a century-old guarantee: automatic citizenship for those born on American soil.
On the inaugural day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt the policy, but the action was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were filed.
The Supreme Court's final decision will either support citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision altogether.
Next, the court will set a time to hear the case between the government and claimants, which comprise foreign-born parents and their young children.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of invading forces.
"Anyone 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 deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that award automatic citizenship to any person born in their territory.
