The New York City metro region is seeing a significant influx of unaccompanied minors, according to a service provider that offers legal defense and placements for immigrant youth.

Catholic Charities Community Services said on Thursday that it is on track to drastically surpass the number of unaccompanied minors it normally works with during its fiscal year. The organization expects to serve 8,000 minors by October, up from its previous yearly average of 3,000.

“We are experiencing a much greater volume of work, particularly in the New York region,” said Mario Russell, the director of the group’s immigrant and refugee services. “We are managing with the resources we have, but we need more.”

Local officials gathered at Catholic Charities in Manhattan on Tuesday to discuss the need for continuous support from city and state government for incoming families and youth.

“The partners that we have in New York City and New York State, although stretched, continue to provide compassionate, high quality care,” said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the executive director for Catholic Charities. “I would be remiss if I didn't say we need more.”

Unaccompanied minors are not the same as children who were separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy last year. Most come from their home country alone, and are eventually connected with a family member or sponsor with the help of federal government contractors, such as Catholic Charities. Nearly all of the unaccompanied minors the organization serves are from Honduras, El Salvador, or Guatemala.

Catholic Charities attributed the increase, in part, to the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Many immigrant youth end up in the New York metro area because the federal government contracts with a variety of service providers here.

New York State lawmakers announced this year that they would continue funding for legal defense for immigrants through the Liberty Defense Project, launched in 2017. The recently-passed state budget included $10 million for the program. New York City has also contributed funds for legal services for some undocumented immigrants facing deportation.

“As we continue to expand our support, expand our response, we need to keep our energy and response high,” said Russell. “This job is not really finite right now.”