The nation's highest court will review case challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has decided to review a landmark case that questions a century-old guarantee: automatic citizenship for those born within US borders.

On day one in office this January, the President signed an order aiming to halt this practice, but the move was halted by federal courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate ruling will ultimately affirm citizenship rights for the children of migrants who are in the US undocumented or on short-term permits, or it will overturn the provision completely.

Next, the judges will set a time to hear the case between the government and plaintiffs, which involve parents who are immigrants and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the principle that all individuals born in the United States is a citizen, with exceptions for children born to foreign diplomats and members of invading forces.

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

The challenged presidential order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States is one of about a minority of states – largely in the Americas – that provide automatic citizenship to any person born within their borders.