America's top judicial body agrees to review legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has decided to review a pivotal case that questions a historic principle: birthright citizenship for people born in the United States.
On the inaugural day in office this winter, the administration issued an executive order aiming to terminate birthright citizenship, but the move was halted by the judiciary after lawsuits were brought forward.
The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either affirm citizenship rights for the offspring of migrants who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will nullify those rights altogether.
Next, the justices will set a time to hear oral arguments between the administration and claimants, which include immigrant parents and their infants.
The Legal Foundation
For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has codified the doctrine that anyone born in the country is a US citizen, with exceptions for children born to diplomats and personnel of foreign military forces.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The contested executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are whether 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 anyone born within their borders.
