America's top judicial body has decided to consider lawsuit challenging automatic citizenship for those born in the US.

The nation's highest court has will hear a landmark case that questions a longstanding constitutional right: automatic citizenship for people born on American soil.

On the inaugural day in office this winter, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will end them completely.

Next, the court will schedule a date to hear arguments between the administration and the suing parties, which comprise foreign-born parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the Fourteenth Amendment has enshrined the rule that every person born in the country is a American citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to 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 challenged directive sought to deny citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on non-permanent visas.

The United States is among about 30 countries – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that award immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.