simplexml_load_string returning false when loading xml?

Hello everyone -

I am encountering a problem when trying to load a simple xml stream into a simplexml_load_string object.  I am retrieving the xml from a webservice, and var_dumps at the appropriate places verify that it is being recieved properly.  However, when I instantiate the simplexml_load_string object and load the xml into it, it returns false.

I've attached the XML I receive from the var_dump just before I instantiate below.

I'm not sure why this is not loading, any help would be invaluable.

$xml_content = $web_service_result; <--- this is the result called from another function, simple xml

var_dump($xml_content); <-- this returns the xml I added below, all looks to be fine...

$xml = simplexml_load_string($xml_content); <-- I attempt to load the xml into the object here...

var_dump($xml); <-- this outputs bool(false)

Here is the XML I receive:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Eligibility>
  <CustID>9</CustID>
  <FirstName>EMPLOYEE</FirstName>
  <LastName>Smith</LastName>
  <Box>BOX</Box>
  <Member>MIC</Member>
  <Email>E-fulfillment2@blah.com</Email>
  <Phone>1236273300</Phone>
  <Address1>321 MAIN ST</Address1>
  <Address2>
  </Address2>
  <City>NEW YORK</City>
  <State>NY</State>
  <PostalCode>10019</PostalCode>
  <CountryCode>US</CountryCode>
</Eligibility>

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