The nation's highest court agrees to review case challenging birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that puts to the test a historic guarantee: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.

On his first day in office this winter, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights altogether.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear the case between the administration and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to 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 directive sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that award immediate citizenship to anyone born in their territory.