The nation's highest court will hear case challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has decided to review a pivotal case that puts to the test a century-old constitutional right: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to end this practice, but the move was subsequently blocked by federal courts after legal challenges were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final judgment will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision altogether.

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

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of foreign military forces.

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

The disputed presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that award immediate citizenship to anyone born within their borders.