America's top judicial body will consider case questioning birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that questions a longstanding principle: birthright citizenship for people born within US borders.

On day one in office this winter, the President signed an order aiming to end the policy, but the order was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision entirely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear the case between the administration and claimants, which include parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the principle that anyone born in the United States is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of foreign military forces.

"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The disputed presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about a minority of states – largely in the North and South America – that award immediate citizenship to all those born on their soil.