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

The nation's highest court has agreed to take on a landmark case that challenges a century-old constitutional right: birthright citizenship for people born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to terminate the policy, but the move was struck down by federal courts after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's eventual judgment will ultimately support citizenship rights for the children of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end the provision altogether.

Next, the court will set a time to hear the case between the government and claimants, which include parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that every person born in the country is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to embassy personnel 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 challenged directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – mostly in the North and South America – that provide automatic citizenship to all those born on their soil.