America's top judicial body agrees to review legal challenge disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a longstanding principle: automatic citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to halt the policy, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will end them completely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear arguments between the administration and claimants, which include parents who are immigrants and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign 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 offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about three dozen nations – primarily in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to all those born in their territory.