The nation's highest court agrees to hear case challenging birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has will hear a landmark case that puts to the test a historic constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for individuals born in the United States.
On the inaugural day in office this winter, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to terminate this practice, but the move was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were filed.
The Supreme Court's eventual judgment will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on temporary visas, or it will end those rights altogether.
Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear the case between the government and the suing parties, which comprise immigrant parents and their infants.
The Legal Foundation
For over a century and a half, the Fourteenth Amendment has codified the rule that every person born in the United States is a American citizen, with exceptions 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 challenged executive order sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.
The United States is one of about three dozen nations – mostly in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born in their territory.
