The nation's highest court has decided to consider case disputing birthright citizenship.

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a pivotal case that challenges a historic constitutional right: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this January, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was halted by federal courts after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will overturn them completely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear the case between the federal government and the suing parties, which include foreign-born parents and their newborns.

The Legal Foundation

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the United States is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.

"Anyone 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 non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about a minority of states – largely in the Western Hemisphere – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.