The nation's highest court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a century-old guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born within US borders.
On day one in office this winter, President Donald Trump signed an order aiming to halt birthright citizenship, but the move was struck down by federal courts after legal challenges were initiated.
The Supreme Court's final decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US illegally or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify them altogether.
Next, the court will set a time to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which include immigrant parents and their infants.
The 14th Amendment
For over a century and a half, the Fourteenth Amendment has established the rule that all individuals born in the United States is a American citizen, with exceptions for children born to embassy personnel and personnel of occupying armies.
"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 whether in the US illegally or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States is among about three dozen nations – largely in the North and South America – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born in their territory.
