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

The top court has will hear a significant case that challenges a historic constitutional right: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the order was struck down by the judiciary after lawsuits were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final judgment will either support citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights completely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and plaintiffs, which comprise parents who are immigrants and their newborns.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign 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 directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – largely in the North and South America – that grant instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.