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

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a pivotal case that puts to the test a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for people born on American soil.

On day one in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to terminate the policy, but the move was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's eventual ruling will ultimately support citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will overturn them completely.

Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the federal government and claimants, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the principle that all individuals born in the nation is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and personnel of invading forces.

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

The disputed presidential order sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – mostly in the Americas – that grant instant citizenship to anyone born in their territory.