America's top judicial body has decided to consider legal challenge disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The top court has decided to review a significant case that puts to the test a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for those born in the United States.

On his first day in office this winter, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was struck down by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will overturn them entirely.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear the case between the federal government and claimants, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the principle that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions 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 disputed executive order sought to refuse 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 a minority of states – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that award automatic citizenship to any person born on their soil.