America's top judicial body has decided to hear legal challenge questioning birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has will hear a significant case that challenges a historic principle: guaranteed citizenship for people born in the United States.
On his first day in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt this practice, but the order was subsequently blocked by the judiciary after legal challenges were filed.
The Supreme Court's eventual judgment will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will nullify the provision entirely.
Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear the case between the government and plaintiffs, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats 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 challenged executive order sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on temporary visas.
The United States is among about 30 countries – mostly in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born on their soil.
