The nation's highest court will hear case questioning birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.
On day one in office this January, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to end this practice, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights altogether.
Next, the court will calendar a session to hear arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which comprise immigrant parents and their young children.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and members 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 contested presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States is among about three dozen nations – mostly in the North and South America – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.
