The crowd at South Carolina's Republican convention cheered Saturday when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney criticized a new immigration proposal and booed U.S. Sen Lindsey Graham when he defended it.

The immigration compromise between key senators and the White House was in the forefront at the convention as more than 1,000 delegates and Republican activists gathered. Many in the crowd wore stickers with "Senate amnesty bill" crossed out.

They cheered as presidential candidate Romney told them: "One simple rule: No amnesty."

During his speech and before his remarks, Romney said a proposed new visa for immigrants amounts to amnesty if it can be renewed indefinitely.

"If that's not a form of amnesty, I don't know what is," Romney said. "I think we should not call it the 'Z visa,' we should call it the 'A visa' because it's amnesty and that's what it stands for."

And the crowd booed Graham, R-S.C., when he said he had worked with U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., on the immigration legislation.

"It's the best bill I think we can get to President Bush," Graham said as some in the crowd shouted "No!"

Graham was cheered earlier in his speech when he talked about the war in Iraq.

"Immigration got booed," Graham said afterward. "It's an emotional topic. People are mad."

Graham and South Carolina's other U.S. senator, Jim DeMint, are on opposite sides on both immigration and the GOP presidential race. DeMint is supporting Romney and does not like the immigration bill. Graham backs Sen. John McCain.

DeMint told the crowd that supporters were trying to "ram an immigration bill down America's throat" and said if it allows permanent residency of illegal immigrants, it should be called amnesty.

Graham said opponents like DeMint are being inaccurate when they say the bill provides amnesty because it requires immigrants to serve a probationary period and pay fines.

"If you don't like President Bush's proposal come up with one of your own that can get support in the Congress to control immigration - which is in chaos," Graham said.

Romney didn't escape criticism at the convention either. Someone dressed in a rhinoceros costume stood outside the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center with a sign saying "RINOs 4 Romney," accusing the former governor of being a "Republican in name only" because of his changing stances on gun control, gay marriage and abortion.

Jim Gilmore, the former Virginia governor and Republican National Committee chairman, also stumped for the GOP nomination at the convention and singled out immigration. "We just simply cannot in some other disguise or guise have an amnesty program," Gilmore said.

Former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley was at the convention endorsing former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign. Huckabee is "authentic and consistently conservative," Beasley said.

Former South Carolina Gov. James Edwards has thrown his support to Romney. Current Gov. Mark Sanford hasn't committed to a candidate.