The number of Puerto Ricans living in the continental U.S. has grown since Hurricane Maria in 2017, and they could have an impact in the outcome of certain federal, state and local elections, analysts say.

Why it matters: Puerto Ricans are an important part of the growing Latino electorate, and parties and candidates would be remiss to take that for granted, experts say.

The big picture: Since 2017, there's been an exodus of Puerto Ricans from the island, and they've moved to states like North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Florida, where they are the second largest Latino subgroup after Cuban Americans. Many are young, averaging 30 years old, per estimates.

• Stateside, Puerto Ricans are eligible to vote for president (which they can't do on the island, as it isn't part of the electoral college).
• Historically, Puerto Rican voters in the mainland have voted for the Democratic Party — about 68% of those living in Florida supported President Biden in 2020, per exit polls.

What they're saying: "Given their rapid growth and that they can more easily cast a vote, they could tilt the scales one way or another" for federal, local or state elections, Jorge Duany, professor of anthropology at Florida International University, says.

• "Their geographic diversification, partly in swing states, should certainly make political campaigns pay attention," Duany adds.

Yes, but: Election turnout has been inconsistent. Academics have said that's partly because recent arrivals to the mainland are less civically engaged since they grew up without participating directly in federal elections.

State of play: Recently, new groups like La Brega y Fuerza Fund have popped up to mobilize Puerto Ricans.

• The group seeks to "build connections and create a pipeline of power" that links voters and issues from the island and the diaspora, founder Camille Rivera tells Axios Latino.
• The hope is to bring greater attention to matters on the island, including the disparity in access to programs like SNAP food benefits, longstanding infrastructure problems worsened by climate change that lead to recurrent blackouts on the island, and displacement as short-term rentals have bloomed.
• "We want to lift the voices of Puerto Rican voters and issues that matter to them, so they get to the forefront … and elected officials and others really understand their importance," Rivera says.

The bottom line: Although Puerto Rican advocates have made some inroads in Congress with pushes to improve food assistance benefits, their causes have not made it past committee.

• "There are certainly signs that these increasingly numerous Puerto Rican communities are making a larger push in political power, but those efforts haven't yet meant concrete legislative advances," Duany says.

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Peru's Congress last week passed a bill that would establish a statute of limitations on crimes against humanity, raising concerns among victims and advocates seeking justice.

Why it matters: Activists and lawyers are warning this would jeopardize pending cases for crimes such as the forced sterilization of Indigenous women, government-sanctioned torture and massacres.

• They say the bill, if signed into law, would limit people's access to justice.

The big picture: Some activists point out the timing is particularly suspect, as the bill's amnesty period would include a 1992 massacre for which former President Alberto Fujimori is on trial.

• Fujimori, who was in power from 1990 to 2000, had already been found guilty of similar massacres and was serving a 25-year sentence — until he was granted a controversial pardon 16 years in and left prison in December.
• Last week, Fujimori announced he's considering running in the 2026 presidential elections with the Fuerza Popular party founded by his daughter (and which holds the congressional majority). It's unclear if, given his past sentences, he would be allowed to.

State of play: The bill would stop ongoing judicial cases against members of the Armed Forces, National Police or state officials for accusations of human rights violations occurring from 1980 through 2000.

• That period includes the Fujimori presidency and the 12-year fight against the insurgency of the Shining Path terrorist group, which was carried out with systematic abuses of civilians, mostly in Indigenous communities.
• The bill was passed by lawmakers even after the attorney general's office advised against it and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights had said it should not move forward.
• The measure now heads to President Dina Boluarte's desk. She has given no indication as to whether she will sign it into law.

The other side: The main proponent of the bill, lawmaker and former military admiral José Cueto, has said its only aim is "for police and military who fought against terrorism during that era to be treated like any other citizen" before the courts.

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Editor's note: This is part of a monthly series spotlighting Latinos who are making a mark in their communities.

Edgar J. Palacios, 38, is the president and CEO of Latinx Education Collaborative and Revolución Educativa. He is based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Why do you do what you do? I founded the Latinx Education Collaborative because I strongly believe that Latino students benefit from seeing themselves in the educators that serve them, and our community benefits from having Latinos in positions of power and influence.

What's your recipe for achieving your goals? Achieving goals means stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. It's about really listening to feedback and reflecting on your progress. You have to put in the effort, face failure, learn from it, and make adjustments. Tracking your progress helps keep you on course. It's a cycle of trying, failing, learning, and improving.

What are you reading or watching? I just finished reading "The Ego is Your Enemy," by Ryan Holiday, and "Purposeful Educator Connections: Five Principles to Strengthen Relationships with Students," by Marcela Andrés. I am about to start "The Solitary CEO: How To Overcome The Isolation That's Holding You Back, "by Patrick Sallee.

What is something you do just for yourself? I like spending time in nature. I think it's important to witness and appreciate the beauty that nature provides.

What is something you can't live without? My calendar. If something's not on it, it won't happen.

What is the best advice you ever got? I've been fortunate to receive advice from many incredible people. The most recent advice I got was, "You just can't hand over the keys to anyone." It really spoke to me about the importance of discernment and the ability to build trust.

1. Latin America's largest trade bloc, the Mercosur, held a summit yesterday in Paraguay that yielded agreements, including on a plan to invest more in making movies — but a marked absence has some worried about the bloc's future.

• President Javier Milei of Argentina, one of Mercosur's founding members, attended a conservative conference in Brazil instead.
• Paraguayan President Santiago Peña acknowledged the danger of "setbacks" if there are divisions in the bloc.

2. Guatemala declared a state of disaster yesterday as forecasts showed the rainy season will be especially severe.

• The declaration, which needs to be ratified by Congress by tomorrow, would facilitate access to emergency funds.
• At least 13 people have died so far during Guatemala's rainy season, which runs from late May to October.

Prep and delivery of Mexican-Venezuelan fusion food in Oaxaca. Source: via Noticias Telemundo

A Mexican-Venezuelan fusion restaurant in Oaxaca State is becoming a hub for immigrants looking for a taste of home.

State of play: MexVen also employs people looking to make their way north or seeking to stay in Mexico.

• The restaurant in the town of Juchitán is owned by a local family who were giving out meals to the immigrants they found sleeping in the street when shelters were over capacity.
• An entrée with sides is now about $4.
• "Almost everyone that comes through delights in it, and we also get business from Mexicans," cook Wilmer Hidalgo tells Noticias Telemundo.