In the field of migration policy, it has become evident that subnational policies are important since they actually deal with local policy efforts in relation to the reception and inclusion of immigrants. This paper originates from a book project where local migration and integration policies in Sweden are in focus. An emerging literature verifies such standpoints by showing how divergences in policies between national and local level appear. Empirically, this paper draws on an analysis of the development of the policy field, including previous reforms, combined with interviews with public officials representing both national and local actors. The theoretical starting point is taken in theories on governance perspective specified through vertical and horizontal governance. To be able to understand the role of local migration policy a simple division between vertical and horizontal perspectives can be utilized. How power over policy is shared between different administrative levels is a question of vertical aspects whereas acknowledging different actors participating in networks, between and within organizations, is a question of a horizontal perspective. More complex, though, the intersection of dynamics generated by vertical and horizontal dimensions appear to be the setting for the inquiry of migration policy that also will involves the negotiating and bargaining between the involved actors on the output of policy. The results show that there are significant challenges within this governance structure that involves tensions between national and local level when it comes to implementing migration and integration policy.