America's top judicial body has decided to hear case disputing citizenship by birth.

The top court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to halt this practice, but the action was struck down by lower courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

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

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

The Legal Foundation

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has established the rule that all individuals born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and members of occupying armies.

"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 withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about 30 countries – mostly in the Americas – that award automatic citizenship to any person born on their soil.