America's top judicial body will review legal challenge challenging citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has agreed to take on a significant case that puts to the test a century-old constitutional right: birthright citizenship for people born within US borders.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to halt this practice, but the action was struck down by the judiciary after lawsuits were filed.

The Supreme Court's final decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights completely.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the federal government and plaintiffs, which include immigrant parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the principle that all individuals born in the nation is a citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and personnel 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 directive sought to withhold citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States is among about three dozen nations – mostly in the Americas – that award immediate citizenship to any person born within their borders.