America's top judicial body has decided to hear legal challenge questioning automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has will hear a pivotal case that puts to the test a historic principle: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On the inaugural day in office this January, the administration enacted a directive aiming to halt this practice, but the move was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's eventual decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will overturn the provision completely.

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

The Legal Foundation

For nearly 160 years, the Constitutional amendment has enshrined the principle that every person born in the country is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of foreign military 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 deny citizenship to the children 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 – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that grant instant citizenship to anyone born on their soil.