America's top judicial body has decided to consider case disputing birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has decided to review a pivotal case that puts to the test a longstanding constitutional right: guaranteed citizenship for those born within US borders.
On day one in office this January, the President issued an executive order aiming to end the policy, but the move was struck down by the judiciary after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's final judgment will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US without authorization or on short-term permits, or it will nullify those rights entirely.
Next, the court will set a time to hear the case between the federal government and the suing parties, which involve foreign-born parents and their newborns.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has codified the doctrine that all individuals born in the United States is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel 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 contested directive sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether 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 – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that award instant citizenship to any person born on their soil.
