MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — A Catholic charity that operates an immigrant relief center in McAllen says they've had city workers put up a tent because number of people using the center for overnight stays has risen so sharply in the last month.

Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, tells The Monitor of McAllen (http://bit.ly/1NlbJ3k ) 762 migrants at the center in July topped last year's peak by 29 percent.

She says the recent surge began in late June. She requested the 25-by-35-foot tent last month to hold an additional 35 people and help keep men separate from women and children.

Border Patrol spokesman Omar Zamor says the agency is apprehending monthly an average of 250 to 300 more people illegally entering the country than in recent months.

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