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

The nation's highest court has decided to review a landmark case that puts to the test a historic principle: guaranteed citizenship for people born within US borders.

On his first day in office this January, the administration signed an order aiming to terminate this practice, but the move was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision altogether.

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

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the principle that all individuals born in the United States is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel 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 disputed directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that grant instant citizenship to all those born on their soil.