America's top judicial body will consider legal challenge questioning citizenship by birth.

The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that challenges a historic guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by federal courts after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will either support citizenship rights for the children of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision altogether.

Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of occupying armies.

"Anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The contested executive order sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that provide instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.