JD Vance spoke on issues facing Haitian immigrants and Springfield, Ohio during a Senate committee back in July, just a week before he was named Donald Trump's pick as his vice presidential running mate.

Months later, Vance tweeted a clip from his comments, noting without evidence that "reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country." Springfield police were and authorities were quick to dismiss the assertion as being untrue, but the claim spread quickly online.

A Haitian immigrant and graduate of Springfield High School responded to the idea and impact on his community, too.