The nation's highest court has decided to consider case questioning automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The US Supreme Court has will hear a significant case that challenges a longstanding principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On day one in office this January, the President enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights entirely.

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

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the rule that all individuals born in the United States is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members 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 challenged directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether 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 Western Hemisphere – that award instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.