The nation's highest court will hear lawsuit challenging birthright citizenship.
The top court has will hear a significant case that puts to the test a longstanding principle: guaranteed citizenship for people born on American soil.
On day one in office this winter, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aiming to terminate this practice, but the action was struck down by lower courts after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will nullify the provision altogether.
Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear oral arguments between the administration and claimants, which involve immigrant parents and their young children.
The 14th Amendment
For more than 150 years, the Constitutional amendment has established the principle that all individuals born in the country is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and members of occupying armies.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The disputed directive sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.
The United States belongs to a group of about three dozen nations – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that provide instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.
