America's top judicial body will review legal challenge challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The top court has will hear a pivotal case that puts to the test a historic constitutional right: birthright citizenship for people born within US borders.

On day one in office this winter, the President issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the action was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either uphold citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn those rights entirely.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear the case between the administration and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the principle that anyone born in the United States is a American citizen, with certain exclusions 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 challenged presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that grant immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.