The nation's highest court will hear legal challenge challenging birthright citizenship.

The top court has agreed to take on a landmark case that challenges a longstanding constitutional right: birthright citizenship for those born on American soil.

On his first day in office this January, the administration issued an executive order aiming to halt the policy, but the order was halted by lower courts after constitutional questions were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's final ruling will either affirm citizenship rights for the infants of foreign nationals who are in the US undocumented or on non-immigrant visas, or it will nullify the provision entirely.

Next, the justices will calendar a session to hear arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which include immigrant parents and their infants.

A Constitutional Cornerstone

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has established the rule that every person born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions 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 disputed executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the offspring 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 is among about three dozen nations – primarily in the Western Hemisphere – that provide instant citizenship to anyone born on their soil.