House Latino congressmen blasted Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for his call to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

On Wednesday, Rubio maintained his platform about DACA, the deferred action program that has allowed eligible undocumented immigrant youths to stay in the U.S. for two years, allowing them to temporarily avoid deportation. Speaking to reporters, Rubio said DACA "will have to end at some point," even if Congress doesn't pass immigration reform.

Following his remarks, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hosted a conference call with Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-Calif., on Thursday afternoon. The two Latino congressmen criticized Rubio's comments and acknowledged DACA's contributions to the immigrant community and U.S. society.

"Clearly, Sen. Rubio doesn't get it -- he doesn't get the fact that DACA has helped thousands of immigrants come out of the shadows; he doesn't get the fact that increasing the legal workforce helps our economy not only in the short-term, but also in the long term comprehensive immigration reform would increase the GDP by an estimated $1.4 trillion by 2033 and would lead to higher wages; and he doesn't get the fact that President Obama decided to take executive action to keep families together because it was simply the right thing to do," said Cardenas. "Let me reiterate that: because it was simply the right thing to do."

Gallego said Rubio's pledge to end the program would risk hundreds of thousands of immigrant youths at risk of deportation. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency, which administers the DACA applications, more than one million people are DACA recipients. Most DACA recipients are immigrants from Mexico, followed by El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and then South Korea.

In Gallego's state, Arizona accounts for the sixth-highest state where DACA applicants reside; California topped the list with more than 309,800 approved applicants.

Gallego added that Rubio's stance "is not only politically outrageous, it's bad policy."

The Arizona congressman continued, "What's so shocking is that being from Florida and having met and seen what DREAMers can do to the benefit of their communities, our country and our economy, he should know they are among the best and brightest that this country has to offer."

More than 49,000 undocumented immigrant youths residing in Florida have been DACA approved as of June, which ranks it fifth among all U.S. states and territories with the most approvals.

"In fact, DACA recipients are already contributing to our nation's economy as student leaders and young professionals in law, politics and STEM-related professions. If Rubio won't stand up for DREAMers, young people who are Americans in all but paperwork, and other immigrants, how can we expect him to stand up for us on issues like education, health care and the economy? The obvious answer is that he won't," said Gallego.

Rubio said the program should not be extended, as it cannot be a permanent U.S. policy.

"DACA is going to end, and the ideal way for it to end is that it's replaced by a reform system that creates an alternative but if it doesn't, it will end, it cannot be the permanent policy of the United States," said Rubio on Wednesday.

Citing the lack of congressional immigration reform, Obama created DACA in June 2012, through executive action. The president said he will withdraw the executive action once Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform.

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