America's top judicial body has decided to review lawsuit disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by the judiciary after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will nullify them entirely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which involve immigrant parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.

"All persons 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 deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – primarily in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to anyone born on their soil.