The nation's highest court has decided to hear legal challenge questioning automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a historic constitutional right: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.
On the inaugural day in office this winter, the President enacted a directive aiming to halt this practice, but the action was subsequently blocked by federal courts after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's final decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn the provision completely.
Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and plaintiffs, which include parents who are immigrants and their newborns.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has established the principle that anyone born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of invading forces.
"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The contested directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that provide instant citizenship to all those born within their borders.
