America's top judicial body agrees to hear case challenging birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has decided to review a landmark case that challenges a longstanding guarantee: automatic citizenship for individuals born on American soil.
On day one in office this January, the administration signed an order aiming to end this practice, but the move was struck down by lower courts after lawsuits were initiated.
The Supreme Court's eventual decision will ultimately uphold citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US illegally or on short-term permits, or it will nullify them altogether.
Next, the judges will schedule a date to hear oral arguments between the government and plaintiffs, which include immigrant parents and their young children.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For over a century and a half, the Constitutional amendment has established the rule that anyone born in the nation is a US citizen, with certain exclusions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel 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 contested executive order sought to refuse citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US in violation of immigration law or are in the country on non-permanent visas.
The United States is among about a minority of states β mostly in the Western Hemisphere β that award instant citizenship to all those born in their territory.
