America's top judicial body will review lawsuit questioning automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The top court has agreed to take on a significant case that puts to the test a longstanding guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for people born in the United States.

On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision altogether.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear the case between the administration and the suing parties, which comprise foreign-born parents and their newborns.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the principle that every person born in the United States is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of foreign military forces.

"Anyone 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 deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.