The nation's highest court will hear lawsuit disputing citizenship by birth.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a century-old guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States.

On his first day in office this winter, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by lower courts after legal challenges were filed.

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

Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the 14th Amendment has established the principle that anyone born in the United States is a citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of occupying armies.

"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The disputed directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that grant instant citizenship to all those born within their borders.