The nation's highest court has decided to consider legal challenge disputing birthright citizenship.

The nation's highest court has will hear a landmark case that questions a century-old principle: birthright citizenship for individuals born within US borders.

On the inaugural day in office this January, President Donald Trump enacted a directive aiming to terminate this practice, but the move was subsequently blocked by lower courts after lawsuits were brought forward.

The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either support citizenship rights for the offspring of immigrants who are in the US without authorization or on temporary visas, or it will end them altogether.

Next, the justices will set a time to hear arguments between the federal government and the suing parties, which include immigrant parents and their young children.

The 14th Amendment

For more than 150 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined the doctrine that all individuals born in the nation is a US citizen, with specific conditions for children born to foreign diplomats and personnel of occupying armies.

"Anyone 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 either in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.

The United States belongs to a group of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born in their territory.