America's top judicial body has decided to review case disputing citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has will hear a significant case that puts to the test a longstanding guarantee: birthright citizenship for people born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the move was halted by federal courts after legal challenges were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights entirely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear oral arguments between the government and claimants, which involve parents who are immigrants and their infants.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to diplomats and members of invading forces.

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

The challenged presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to anyone born in their territory.