Yes, we can! Si, se puede! Though not an exact translation, the message gets across: in this election, Latinos played a strong role in deciding the winner.

During the last presidential debates, Latinos posted the most tweets and status updates about the lack of Latin American issues being addressed. One sentence by Romney was hardly enough to describe all of Latin America’s concerns. So what is Latin America looking forward to with President Obama still in power? And will it affect his relationship with Latinos in the U.S.?

There’s Puerto Rico, for instance. With 54 percent of the island’s voting population in favor of statehood, it’s possible we may be adding another star to our flag. President Obama has stated he will respect the wishes of the voting Puerto Ricans, but it will ultimately be up to Congress to decide.

When it comes to the economy, Latin America has received little, if any, attention from the U.S. Instead, all eyes are on Asia with its growing world market. But one cannot forget that Brazil has also been expanding, and with the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics both being hosted by Brazil, economic investments in the South Americna nation are sure to boom, especially from China.

In Venezuela, Hugo Chavez has entered his third term, but his influence on Iran has gone undiscussed. And with Obama in his second term, plenty of left-leaning Latin American countries — including Venezuela — are sighing in relief. Surely Romney would have cut ties, but what about Obama.

There was hope during Obama’s first term. Cuban Americans were allowed to travel and send packages between Cuba and the U.S. Unfortunately, the embargo laws and arrests in both countries have not relieved tensions. With talk of Cuba opening its gates to the rest of the world, including the U.S., maybe it is time to sit down with the Cuban government and negotiate. Of course, in Florida, some Latinos may want a different approach. There is a strong anti-Castro population in the state, and perhaps it’s the reason why Latin American relations were not discussed. If any talk of Castro had occurred, either candidate could have lost a crucial state. In the end, Florida appears to have gone blue for Obama. Now, without the worry of retaining voters, will the President step up to the plate and discuss Cuba?

Meanwhile, Mexico’s drug cartels have created a heavy uneasiness on both sides of the border. The U.S. has continued to aid the country with money and training for their covert officers. But with the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington, Mexico is worried about more possible drug smugglings. Marijuana is illegal in Mexico and the government has a strict no-tolerance policy for those caught with the drug. The Obama administration has yet to release a statement on the legalization and its effects on the rest of the U.S.

Back at home, Maryland recently passed its own DREAM Act, and undocumented students celebrate newfound access to higher education with financial aid from the state. But here is a catch: citizenship is not part of the package. The federal version of the bill was shot down due to its promise of citizenship; the state bill will therefore only allow for higher education.

Still, it is enough to celebrate, and the large population of undocumented immigrants and first-generation citizens certainly will. These Latinos are looking to see if the president will return the favor and help their parents’ countries of origin with more efficient immigration reforms and, hopefully, a federal DREAM Act to grant citizenship.

Janette Valenzo Venegas is a foreign correspondent. Email her at [email protected].