America's top judicial body has decided to hear case disputing birthright citizenship.

Supreme Court building

The top court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a century-old principle: guaranteed citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this winter, the administration issued an executive order aiming to halt the policy, but the order was subsequently blocked by lower courts after constitutional questions were initiated.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US illegally or on temporary visas, or it will nullify those rights completely.

Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which involve immigrant parents and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the United States is a American citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of foreign military forces.

"Every individual born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."

The contested directive sought to deny citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US illegally or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is one of about 30 countries – primarily in the Americas – that award instant citizenship to all those born on their soil.

Donald Webb
Donald Webb

A seasoned political analyst with over a decade of experience covering UK governance and legislative trends.