America's top judicial body has decided to hear case challenging birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a historic guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt the policy, but the order was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's eventual judgment will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end them completely.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the rule that every person born in the nation is a American citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel 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 challenged executive order sought to refuse 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 a minority of states – mostly in the Americas – that provide instant citizenship to all those born on their soil.