Suliana Lutin

Suliana is the founder and Board President of Casa Sulis. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California Law San Francisco (formerly known University of California Hastings College of the Law) with a Criminal Law and Theory concentration. In 2012, she founded Lutin Law Group, a growing and successful immigration and criminal defense firm in Southern California, where she is the Managing Attorney. Besides Suliana’s professional accomplishments, Suliana loves animals and has a large household of rescued pets in Fullerton, California; Santa Cruz La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala, and three goats in Sagle, Idaho.

Suliana was born in Guatemala. From a very young age, she faced the difficulties that are inherited by those born into a family with limited resources. She is the daughter of a single mother, and when she was about 9 years old, she stayed in Guatemala with her brother under the care of an aunt when her mother decided to emigrate to the United States in search of a better way of life. After several years, when Suliana was approximately 15 years old, she and her brother emigrated to the United States and reunited with her mother. Suliana was able to overcome the obstacles of the language barrier and, with sacrifices, began to climb steps, making her way in a strange country. But as an undocumented individual, she faced the threat of deportation, which she was able to overcome.

Unfortunately, her brother did not run with the same luck. He was deported to Guatemala. Shortly after, he was kidnapped and murdered. All this happened when Suliana was not a lawyer yet. She is a firm believer in Mahatma Gandhi’s message to “be the change you want to see in the world.”

As a lawyer, Suliana dedicates her career to helping those who, like her brother, face the threat of deportation from the United States. Her sense of responsibility and humanitarian charisma have earned her the respect and admiration of her family, colleagues, clients, and friends. Those who meet her for the first time are surprised by her story of humility, simplicity, and good humor. She has achieved in other people what she unfortunately could not do for her brother. Helping others has always been a passion of Suliana and she absolutely loves dogs! While growing up, she had an affinity for animals and was especially sensitive to those suffering. She channeled this compassion into rescuing street dogs, which ultimately led to Casa Sulis. Suliana strongly believes that every dog and cat deserves to know love and compassion; unfortunately, the tragic fate of homeless dogs in Guatemala is far from that. Suliana, a reliable test of struggle and tenacity, is now focusing her energy on advancing the health and safety of dogs and cats in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Sololá, Guatemala.

Suliana lives in Southern California with her husband, Jeff, their African Gray, María Josefa de Los Angeles Lutin Priegel, also known as “Chepita,” and their dogs, Amber, Charlie, Lucky, Cleo, and Muñeca.