The nation's highest court will review lawsuit disputing citizenship by birth.

The US Supreme Court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, the administration signed an order aiming to halt this practice, but the move was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will end them entirely.

Next, the court will calendar a session to hear the case between the administration and the suing parties, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has established the rule that every person born in the United States is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to diplomats and personnel of invading 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 either in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is among about 30 countries – largely in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to anyone born within their borders.