America's top judicial body has decided to hear case challenging birthright citizenship.
The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that challenges a century-old constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born within US borders.
On his first day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt the policy, but the action was struck down by lower courts after constitutional questions were brought forward.
The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights entirely.
Next, the justices will schedule a date to hear arguments between the federal government and claimants, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the principle that every person born in the United States is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of invading forces.
"Anyone born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The disputed executive order 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 – mostly in the North and South America – that provide automatic citizenship to any person born within their borders.
