America's top judicial body will hear case challenging birthright citizenship.
The US Supreme Court has will hear a pivotal case that challenges a century-old constitutional right: birthright citizenship for those born in the United States.
On his first day in office this winter, the administration enacted a directive aiming to end the policy, but the action was subsequently blocked by lower courts after constitutional questions were filed.
The Supreme Court's ultimate decision will either uphold citizenship rights for the children of foreign nationals who are in the US without authorization or on non-immigrant visas, or it will overturn the provision altogether.
Next, the judges will set a time to hear the case between the government and claimants, which include parents who are immigrants and their young children.
A Constitutional Cornerstone
For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has enshrined 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 occupying armies.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States."
The challenged directive sought to withhold citizenship to the children of people who are either in the US without legal status or are in the country on short-term status.
The United States is one of about 30 countries – mostly in the Western Hemisphere – that provide immediate citizenship to any person born on their soil.
