"puissent" is a form of the verb "pouvoir", to be able to, can.
It is the third person of plural in the present of the subjonctive, "qu'ils puissent."
It is used to express a wish:
Je souhaite qu'ils puissent rentrer, I wish they are able to come back.
A request:
Il faut qu'ils puissent rentrer, they have to be able to come back.
A possibility:
Il est possible qu'ils puissent rentrer, they may be able to come back.
A doubt:
Je doute qu'ils puissent rentrer, I doubt they will be able to come back.