US Supreme Court has decided to hear legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that challenges a century-old guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On day one in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision altogether.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear the case between the federal government and claimants, which involve foreign-born parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the rule that every person born in the United States is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of occupying armies.

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

The challenged directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – primarily in the North and South America – that grant automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.

Peter Davidson

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