The nation's highest court has decided to consider lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.
The top court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born on American soil.
On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt this practice, but the action was subsequently blocked by federal courts after legal challenges were filed.
The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision completely.
Next, the court will calendar a session to hear arguments between the federal government and claimants, which include foreign-born parents and their young children.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the nation is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and personnel of occupying armies.
"All persons 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 whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that award instant citizenship to anyone born on their soil.
