ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo withdrew New York from a controversial federal deportation program yesterday, drawing praise from immigrant-rights groups.

The Democratic executive cited “mounting evidence” that the 3-year-old Secure Communities program was falling short of its goals to deport serious felons and was also discouraging immigrant witnesses and victims from cooperating with law enforcement.

“Until the numerous questions and controversies regarding the program can be resolved, we have determined that New York is best served by relying on existing tools to ensure the safety of its residents,” Cuomo Counsel Mylan Denerstein wrote in a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Cuomo’s decision comes in response to a request from several Hispanic lawmakers, citing reports of unjustified deportations, to pull out. Illinois and several other states also have opted out of the program.