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

The top court has decided to review a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt the policy, but the action was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision completely.

Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear arguments between the government and claimants, which involve immigrant parents and their young children.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the rule that anyone born in the nation is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats 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 challenged presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about a minority of states – primarily in the North and South America – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born within their borders.