US Supreme Court has decided to consider legal challenge questioning birthright citizenship.

The top court has decided to review a significant case that challenges a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for people born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, the President issued an executive order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn those rights altogether.

Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which include parents who are immigrants and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Fourteenth Amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a American citizen, with certain exclusions 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 contested directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – mostly in the North and South America – that award automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.