The nation's highest court has decided to review case challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The top court has will hear a landmark case that challenges a century-old guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born on American soil.
On his first day in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were initiated.
The Supreme Court's eventual decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will end them altogether.
Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the government and the suing parties, which include foreign-born parents and their young children.
The Legal Foundation
For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the principle that every person born in the nation is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel 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 presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law 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 instant citizenship to any person born within their borders.
