The nation's highest court will consider case challenging birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has decided to review a significant case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States.

On day one in office this winter, the administration issued an executive order aiming to terminate this practice, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights altogether.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the principle that anyone born in the country is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The disputed directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born on their soil.