America's top judicial body has decided to review lawsuit disputing citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a century-old principle: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On day one in office this January, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to halt this practice, but the action was struck down by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify them entirely.

Next, the court will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which involve parents who are immigrants and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The contested executive order sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about a minority of states – primarily in the Americas – that grant immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.