The nation's highest court will review case challenging citizenship by birth.

The top court has will hear a pivotal case that questions a historic principle: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the action was subsequently blocked by the judiciary after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either support citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision altogether.

Next, the court will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which include parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a American citizen, with exceptions 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 disputed executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on temporary visas.

The United States belongs to a group of about a minority of states – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that provide instant citizenship to all those born on their soil.