I used to work at a homeless shelter located in a Church. Working with that population, one must needs deal with the police, but the Church was rather skittish about having cops with guns come in, especially if they were coming in for someone we were giving food and a bed. So the policy was that if the cops came looking for somebody, I told the (veteran, Chicago) cops to wait outside (in January) while I went inside and told our guest that someone was here to see him, and would please like to come outside? Needless to say, my job was a load of fun.
Anyway, I never really had a problem, and the cops and guests went along pretty well, but I always wondered if I could have tried to grant “Sanctuary.” Is this really a legal thing or juat a tradition? Let’s assume for the discussion that they are not in hot pursuit, and let’s make me a clergyman. Can I tell the cops “no”? Is a special warrant needed? Lawyers, please…