The nation's highest court has decided to consider legal challenge challenging citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a pivotal case that puts to the test a longstanding principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, the President signed an order aiming to end birthright citizenship, but the order was struck down by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will end the provision entirely.

Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear the case between the government and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has established the rule that every person born in the United States is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The disputed executive order sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that grant instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.