Can a man actually be a traitor to a government which has been imposed on him, when he still recognizes the National government as HIS government?

Let's paint a scenario which is free from 150 years of emotional baggage.

In the American Southwest, several states will, in the near future, have a population in which Hispanics are the majority. Now, let us say that the Hispanic-dominated legislatures of those states cook up a list of grievances against the United States, decide that their rights are being trampled, vote to secede from the Union, issue a declaration of independence, and form their own country. They immediately raise an army and enforce conscription on all military-age males residing in their new country.

And, let's assume that the President and Congress of the United States determine that this new Hispanic nation is unconstitutional and order the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force to engage and defeat the Hispanic army and reestablish law and order.

Now, suppose that many of the white residents, whose families have lived in the Southwest for generations, who do not endorse the actions of their State legislatures, and want to remain American citizens, leave their homes and join the U.S. Armed Forces and fight to restore what they consider to be the legitimate government.

Are those men traitors? Traitors to what? To their State, which they believe has been illegally taken over? To the Hispanic national government, which they feel was imposed upon them against their will?

Or are they patriots, risking their lives to fight for their government and flag?

Loaded words are like loaded guns. They should be used with great care and only in the appropriate context.