The nation's highest court has decided to review lawsuit disputing automatic citizenship for those born in the US.
The nation's highest court has will hear a significant case that challenges a longstanding principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born in the United States.
On day one in office this winter, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was struck down by federal courts after constitutional questions were brought forward.
The Supreme Court's ultimate judgment will either uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will overturn the provision entirely.
Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear the case between the federal government and claimants, which include foreign-born parents and their infants.
The 14th Amendment
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that every person born in the country is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of foreign military forces.
"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 whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – primarily in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to any person born in their territory.
