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

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a pivotal case that questions a historic guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the order was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either support citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will overturn the provision completely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the rule that anyone born in the country is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel 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 directive sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that award immediate citizenship to all those born in their territory.