The US Supreme Court has agreed to review a case challenging the constitutional right to citizenship for certain children born in the United States.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an order seeking to end birthright citizenship for children of parents residing in the country unlawfully. The move was blocked by several lower courts, preventing its implementation.

A hearing date has not yet been set, and a ruling could take several months. The Court’s decision may have far-reaching implications for Trump-era immigration policies and could redefine eligibility for American citizenship.

For nearly 160 years, the 14th Amendment has guaranteed that anyone born on US soil is a citizen, with the exception of children born to diplomats and members of foreign military forces. The amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.”

Data from the Pew Research Center indicates that in 2016, around 250,000 children were born to unauthorized immigrant parents, down 36% from a 2007 peak. By 2022, the latest year available, the number of US citizens born to unauthorized immigrant parents had reached 1.2 million.