The nation's highest court has decided to consider case challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has agreed to take on a landmark case that questions a historic constitutional right: automatic citizenship for people born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the order was struck down by lower courts after legal challenges were filed.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision completely.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Fourteenth Amendment has enshrined the rule that anyone born in the nation is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats 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 refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that award immediate citizenship to anyone born on their soil.