US Supreme Court will hear case challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that challenges a historic principle: guaranteed citizenship for those born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, the administration signed an order aiming to end this practice, but the action was subsequently blocked by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of immigrants who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision entirely.

Next, the judges will calendar a session to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of foreign military forces.

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

The contested presidential order sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is one of about a minority of states – primarily in the Americas – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.