U.S. won't jettison rules on using Mexican ID cards

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department said Thursday it will leave in place rules that allow financial institutions to accept Mexican identification cards, called matricula consular, which often are used by undocumented immigrants to open bank accounts.

The decision, which extends to all foreign-issued identification, is considered a victory for immigration and Latino groups that have protested efforts to prohibit use of the identification card as anti-immigrant and anti-Hispanic. Financial institutions, too, had opposed any change in the rule.

Opponents say the cards are too fraud-prone and pose a risk to homeland security.