The nation's highest court has decided to hear lawsuit disputing birthright citizenship.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a significant case that challenges a century-old principle: birthright citizenship for individuals born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, the President signed an order aiming to halt the policy, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will overturn them completely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear the case between the government and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel 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 challenged executive order 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 non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about three dozen nations – primarily in the North and South America – that award instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.